Obituaries
Joyce McDowell Baxter
( June 2, 1936 - November 13, 2020 )
Joyce McDowell Baxter, 84, went home to be with her Lord peacefully at home November 13, 2020. She was born June 2, 1936, in Nashville, TN, to Charles Louis McDowell, Jr. and Eva Marie Crowe McDowell.
Joyce met her husband of 57 years while volunteering for the USO in Nashville while he served in the Army at Fort Campbell, KY after serving in Bamberg, Germany. He would bring soldiers to Nashville for furlough where they met during a USO dance. She married George Ennis Baxter, Sr. April 25, 1955, and raised their family in Graham, NC and later moved to Lincolnton, NC in 1974. Joyce worked with Lincoln County Schools, Gaston College, and Lincoln County Head Start where she was recognized for helping to bring the Head Start program to Lincoln County. Joyce was involved in many community organizations including Girl Scouts for 20 years in both Graham and Lincolnton. She was a life member of American Legion Auxiliary Post 120 and Disabled American Veterans. She taught religion for both children and adults at St. Dorothy’s Catholic Church along with serving her church many other capacities.
In addition to her parents, he is predeceased by her husband George Ennis Baxter, Sr. and her sisters Ann Marie Votta and Yvonne Bonnie Sullivan. Surviving are her children Ilda Marie Rowland and husband Russel of Ruffin, NC; George “Buddy” Ennis Baxter, Jr. and friend Mark Plyler of Overland Park, KS; James Ennis Baxter and wife Mary Lynne of Lincolnton, NC; Barbara Baxter Williams and fiancé Matt Hickman of Greencastle, PA; her grandchildren: Wes Rowland and wife Kayla; John Rowland and wife Christina; Trey Baxter, Nicole, John, and Chloe Williams; her great-grandchildren John, Cole, Dillon, Allison Rowland; and her siblings Charlotte Baker, Chuck McDowell, and Molly Heber all of Nashville, TN.
The family will be having Mass Tuesday, November 17th, at 10am at St Dorothy’s Catholic Church in Lincolnton, NC. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery. The body will lie in state from 12:00 until 4:00 p.m. on Monday at Warlick Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St Dorothy’s Catholic Church, 148 St Dorothy’s Lane, Lincolnton, NC 28092 or Hospice & Palliative Care Lincoln County, 900 Dontia Dr., Lincolnton, NC 28092.
Joyce met her husband of 57 years while volunteering for the USO in Nashville while he served in the Army at Fort Campbell, KY after serving in Bamberg, Germany. He would bring soldiers to Nashville for furlough where they met during a USO dance. She married George Ennis Baxter, Sr. April 25, 1955, and raised their family in Graham, NC and later moved to Lincolnton, NC in 1974. Joyce worked with Lincoln County Schools, Gaston College, and Lincoln County Head Start where she was recognized for helping to bring the Head Start program to Lincoln County. Joyce was involved in many community organizations including Girl Scouts for 20 years in both Graham and Lincolnton. She was a life member of American Legion Auxiliary Post 120 and Disabled American Veterans. She taught religion for both children and adults at St. Dorothy’s Catholic Church along with serving her church many other capacities.
In addition to her parents, he is predeceased by her husband George Ennis Baxter, Sr. and her sisters Ann Marie Votta and Yvonne Bonnie Sullivan. Surviving are her children Ilda Marie Rowland and husband Russel of Ruffin, NC; George “Buddy” Ennis Baxter, Jr. and friend Mark Plyler of Overland Park, KS; James Ennis Baxter and wife Mary Lynne of Lincolnton, NC; Barbara Baxter Williams and fiancé Matt Hickman of Greencastle, PA; her grandchildren: Wes Rowland and wife Kayla; John Rowland and wife Christina; Trey Baxter, Nicole, John, and Chloe Williams; her great-grandchildren John, Cole, Dillon, Allison Rowland; and her siblings Charlotte Baker, Chuck McDowell, and Molly Heber all of Nashville, TN.
The family will be having Mass Tuesday, November 17th, at 10am at St Dorothy’s Catholic Church in Lincolnton, NC. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery. The body will lie in state from 12:00 until 4:00 p.m. on Monday at Warlick Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St Dorothy’s Catholic Church, 148 St Dorothy’s Lane, Lincolnton, NC 28092 or Hospice & Palliative Care Lincoln County, 900 Dontia Dr., Lincolnton, NC 28092.
Posted on 13 Nov 2020
Current Information
Contact
125 Dave Warlick Drive
Lincolnton, NC 28092
704/735-2521