Jeanne W. Baxter

Jeanne Keith Williams Baxter was born on 6 December 1941 to Ina Lee and Keith A. Williams of Dallas, Texas. She died unexpectedly on 23 December 2017, at her home in Plano. During a long and busy life, Jeanne was an exceptional student, a successful architect, an accomplished sailor, a loving mother to three children, four stepchildren, and six grandchildren, and a devoted wife.

Jeanne graduated from Dallas’ Adamson High School in 1960, and enrolled in the School of Architecture at the University of Texas in Austin. She was one of only two female students in the School. Through her excellent scholarship, she placed out of her entire freshman year requirements, and graduated with honors. In 1965 she married her classmate, John Skelton III, and took a job with a prominent Austin architectural firm, where she designed an award winning Lutheran church. In 1966, when her husband joined the Navy, she returned to Dallas, joining the firm of Pratt, Box and Henderson. When her husband received permanent duty in Gulfport, MS, she continued her career with a firm in Biloxi, working on a variety of projects, and upon her husband’s release from active duty, returned to Dallas, where she was employed by HKS. In 1971 her first child, John Skelton IV was born. Over the next several years, she joined her husband’s practice until the birth of her twins, Keith and Suzannah. In 1980 she took over the practice, and designed a number of significant buildings including the Aviary at the Dallas Zoo. Jeanne married John P. Baxter in 1996 and they spent many happy years sailing Lake Texoma, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic. She was an excellent sailor, winning numerous races with her husband on their sailboat Falcon, and those were among the happiest days of her life. Jeanne was also a former member of The Dallas Woman's Club and The Dallas Garden Club.

Jeanne is survived by her sister Gwen Vance and her husband Glenn and their sons Alan and Glenn, by her son John Skelton IV and his wife Ellen and their children Aaron and Elise, by her daughter Suzannah Skelton and her husband Matt Valentine and their son Robert, by her daughter-in-law Kristin Skelton and her daughter Jessica, by her stepson George Baxter and his wife Sally and their daughters Katherine and Brooke, and by her stepdaughters Martha and Evalyne Baxter. Jeanne is predeceased by her son Keith Skelton and stepdaughter Margaret Baxter.

At Jeanne's request, no service is planned prior to inurnment at Sparkman Hillcrest. A gathering of friends and family will be held on Saturday, December 30, at the home of a family friend, Nancy Shelton, at 3913 Miramar, Dallas, TX 75205 from 3 until 5 in the afternoon.

Memorials may be made to the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin, to the Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park, to Operation Kindness, or to the charity of your choice.