Elsie Reah Garretson Baxter

© The Bakersfield Californian

Thursday, 7 December 2006

Submitted by: Alex Carter

Elsie Reah [Garretson] Baxter
July 11, 1922 - Dec 4, 2006

Services will be held Friday, December 8th at 10:00 a.m. at Wood Family Funeral Service in Tehachapi for Elsie Reah Baxter, 84, who passed away Monday, December 4, 2006 in Bakersfield.

Reah was born July 11, 1922 in Hammon, Oklahoma to parents Edwin Frank and Ida Leefa Garretson.

In 1936, at the age of 14, she moved with her family to Wasco where she graduated from Wasco High School.

On March 3, 1942 in Shafter, Reah married Merle Baxter. They lived and raised their family in the Arvin and Edison communities, moving to Tehachapi in 1961.

She was a homemaker, who loved sewing, crocheting, cooking and entertaining family and friends.

One accomplishment of which she was most proud was becoming a Reflexologist. She began practicing in 1968 and continued for approximately 30 years.

She loved being a grandma and leaves many, many happy memories for her grandchildren.

Reah loved to write and created many poems for her family to cherish. She was also a lifelong member of the Church of Christ and loved attending church and singing.

Mrs. Baxter is survived by her daughters, Charlyne Arnold of Valencia, Ann and Skip Cowsert of Bakersfield, and Nancy and Tim Garrett of Ava, Missouri; son, Charles and Belinda Baxter, Jr. of Alexander, Arkansas; granddaughters, Peggy and Bob Franca of Phoenix, Arizona, Leah and Craig Covey of Costa Mesa, Kelli and Stan Koutstaal of Centerville, Virginia, Tina and Darrien Shuguem of Phoenix, Arizona, Heidi and Steve Timm of Reno, Nevada, Kayla and Dan Dockray of Canadian, Texas, Crystal Clayton of Arkansas, Sayde and Mark Fellows of Fenton, Missouri; grandsons Ray and Laurie Baxter of Arkansas and Kody and Randi Garrett of Ozark, Missouri; and six great grandsons and seven great granddaughters.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Merle Baxter, Sr.; parents, Edwin Frank and Ida Leefa Garretson; brothers, Paul Garretson and his wife, Raymoth, Elbert Garretson and his wife, Avery; grandson, Jared Lee Baxter; and son-in-law, Bert Arnold.

Services will be officiated by Bill Willingham and Charles Baxter.

Interment will follow at Tehachapi Public Cemetery Eastside.

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