Charlotte W. Baxter

Charlotte W. Baxter, age 85, of Woodstock, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away Sept. 8, 2018, at Autumn Leaves in Crystal Lake, Ill.

She was born May 22, 1933, to Walter and Nelle (Madigan) Wilson. Charlotte grew up on a farm in Champaign, Ill. She was the youngest of eight children. Charlotte’s elementary years were spent attending Dunham School (one-room schoolhouse) with her siblings. She attended high school at Champaign Central.

Charlotte pursued her dream of becoming a nurse and graduated from the Burnham School of Nursing, Champaign, in 1954. During her nurse’s training she met her best friend and future husband, Darrell Baxter, who was a student at the University of Illinois. They married May 15, 1954, in Champaign and were blessed with four children and 52 wonderful years together until Darrell’s passing in 2006.

Charlotte and Darrell’s early years were spent in Washington, D.C., Urbana, Ill., Beloit, Wis., and finally Woodstock, which would become their home for 49 years. Charlotte was employed at Woodstock Memorial Hospital as well as at the Woodstock Medical Center. She also worked part time during her retirement years at Craig Woods Golf Course.

Charlotte was extremely loyal. This was evident as most Friday nights during the fall you would find her in the stands cheering on her husband’s high school football teams. Besides a love for football, she also was a dedicated fan of the Chicago Cubs. Charlotte was extremely proud of her Irish heritage. She and Darrell were fortunate enough to visit the country of her ancestors.

Playing bridge was a passion of hers, and it gave her the opportunity to acquire many wonderful friendships. Charlotte enjoyed a good game of golf and long, leisurely walks. She was an avid writer, keeping diaries and journals that span over four decades. She was also a member of the First United Methodist Church of Woodstock.

But, it was her family that gave her the most joy. She loved family celebrations and time spent together. For thirteen splendid summers Charlotte and Darrell treated their children and grandchildren to a family vacation in Door County, Wis. The laughter and memories will remain in our hearts forever.

Left to cherish Charlotte’s memory are her sons, Kirk (David) of Houston, Texas, Kip (Kathy) of Woodstock, Ken (Jodi) of Bartlett and her daughter Kelly (Tom) Mitchell of Woodstock. She was blessed with six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, with two on the way. The grandchildren are Chelsea (Brett) Oates, Keil Mitchell, Kelsey (Ben) Caldwell, Kylie (JayJay) Ruiz, Andrew Baxter and Sarah Baxter; great-grandchildren Mia and Braxton Ruiz, Charlotte “Charlee” Oates, and soon-to-be Baby Caldwell and Baby Oates; also, sister and brother-in-law Bette and Johnny Murray, sisters-in-law Diane Baxter and Janice Fair, and brother-in-law Frank “Sank” Baxter. She had numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Charlotte is preceded in death by her husband Darrell; siblings Josephine, James, Paul, Walter, Max and Thomas; her in-laws Kenneth “KD” and Zelda Baxter; sister-in-law MaryAnn Baxter; and brother-in-law Eddie Fair.

Special thank you to the staff at Autumn Leaves in Crystal Lake and JourneyCare for their care, comfort and support.

There will be a gathering or friends and relatives on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Schneider Leucht Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, 1211 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock. The visitation will continue on Thursday, Sept. 13, at the First United Methodist Church, 201 W. South St., Woodstock, from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Funeral Service. Interment will follow in the McHenry County Memorial Park Cemetery in Woodstock.

For those wishing to send an expression of sympathy, Charlotte’s family suggest memorials to The First United Methodist Church in Woodstock or JourneyCare Foundation.

For information, call the funeral home at 815-338-1710, or visit www.slmcfh.com