Helen Louise Baxter

Helen Louise Baxter, 93, of Surprise, AZ, received her angel wings October 6, 2014. She was born in Earlington, KY on September 5, 1921. Helen graduated from New Albany High School in Indiana. After graduation she went to work for the L&N Railroad. She was great at math and soon worked herself up in the ranks. She married Bernie Baxter in 1942. They lived in California for 6 years and then decided to explore the territory of Alaska. They were there when it became a state in 1959. Then they headed to Page, AZ where Bernie was Superintendent of Piping in the building of the Gen Canyon Dam. They moved to Phoenix in 1963. Helen's career in Phoenix included buying and managing apartment complexes and becoming a realtor as well as a "million dollar seller". She belonged to the National Association of Realtors receiving many awards through the years. She loved people so selling homes was an act of love for her. Many of her clients became dear friends returning to her time and time again if they had a home to sell. Helen continued in real estate into her 80's. She became a member of the 1st United Methodist Church many years ago volunteering in the office when she was younger. She loved it. She adored her friends in the Joy Bible Study. They met weekly for decades. They enjoyed coffee time, lunches, birthday parties and lively conversations. She also had a zest to see the world and so she did! Traveling the world with family and friends. She always looked forward to her next trip, planning every fun part of it enthusiastically. She was never afraid to try new things! In her later years, she took bridge lessons playing in many groups. She learned to play golf and use a computer. She even took organ lessons starting in her late 80's. Most of all she adored her family. There's nothing she wouldn't do for them. They brought her great joy and she loved to be with them. She also never knew a stranger. She was very charismatic and people were always drawn to her as she had such a special way with everyone she met. Those who know her will always remember her as full of love and a sweet smile. She was kind, generous, with a soft-spoken Kentucky drawl and a tender heart. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers and husband. She leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter Jan Smith (C.W.), granddaughters, Kami Fockler (Jack) and Marci Leith (Larry), great-grandchildren Morgan, Zach and Adam Fockler, Cooper, Senna, Mika and Kaia Leith, nieces Laura Almon and Ronnee Carpenter and many other beloved family members. Our family would like to express their deepest gratitude to Rock Creek for the wonderful, loving care they gave her the last few years of her life. She loved them all, as they were so good to her.