Raymond Baxter 87, of Ottawa, passed away on Friday evening, January 8, 2021 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.
A private service will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with Rev. Cheri Stewart, Pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park, where Full Military Rites will be accorded by the American Legion Post 33 Honor Guard.
Raymond was born on April 21, 1933 in Ottawa to Vaughn Butler and Doris (Wiley) Baxter, and raised on the family farm in Prairie Center. Ray attended school at the one room school house in Prairie Center, where he rode his horse to school. He was a graduate of Serena High School class of 1951. Raymond was drafted into the US Army at the age of 19 and served two years in Korea. He and his wife, Patricia (Deckard) Baxter, were married on February 19, 1956 at the First United Methodist Church in Ottawa. She passed away on March 31, 2020. Raymond spent his entire life farming, while also drilling wells for many of those years. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Past Grandmaster of the Occidental Lodge #40 A.F. & A.M., member of the Ottawa Elks, and American Legion Post 33. Ray’s greatest passions in life were farming and his family, especially his grandchildren.
He is survived by four children, Randall (Connie) Baxter, of Springfield, IL, Patricia (Terry) Bailey, of Prairie Center, James (Chris) Baxter, of Ottawa, and Susan (Andre) Brockman, of Grand Ridge, 14 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Patricia, and a brother, Wiley Baxter.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Travis O’Connell, Joshua and Colt Carrier, Jacob and Cody Donahue, Andre Brockman II, and James, Brandon, and Michael Baxter
He was laid to rest in the Garden of Inspiration.
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