Emma Fay Deckelman Baxter

Emma Fay Deckelman Baxter, age 85, of Dermott, Ark. passed away Monday, June 17, 2013 at her home in Dermott. She was born to the late Arthur and Helen Irene Gardner Deckelman on November 1, 1927 in Calion, Arkansas. Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Steven Center Baxter, daughter, Patricia Helen Baxter, a sister, Maxine Garceau, and brothers Conlyn Deckelman, Arthur Deckelman and Frederick Deckelman. Mrs. Baxter was of the Baptist faith and graduated from the University of Arkansas Monticello A&M with a BA in Education. She taught school for several years in Arkansas and Texas. She was a former member of the Arkansas State Nursing Board, the Current Topic Book Club and the Third & Fourth Club. Mrs. Baxter is survived by her husband of 59 years, John Mitchell Baxter of Dermott, Ark., a daughter, Andrea Bess Baxter of Albuquerque, N.M., two brothers, Leroy Deckelman of Crossett, Ark. and Thomas Deckelman of Odenville, Ala., two sisters, Gloria Higginbotham of Hamburg, Ark. and Helen Wolfe of Gillett, Ark. The family requests a private graveside service. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital, Cystic Fibrosis Center, at P.O. Box 2222, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 (archildrens.org) or Sunny Shores Sea Camp, P.O, Box 56-1109, Miami, Fla. 33256. (sunnyshoresseacamp.org). Arrangements by Griffin-Culpepper Funeral Service of McGehee, Ark. Online guestbook: www.griffinculpepper.com.