Elizabeth Ann Baxter

Elizabeth Ann Smith Baxter, 81, of Sedona, AZ, died Sunday, June 5, 2016 at Valley View Care in Cottonwood, AZ. Elizabeth was born in Chicago, IL on February 28, 1935, daughter of the late Eugene and Blanche Smith. She was raised in Hazel Crest, IL, graduate of Thornton HS and the Chicago Art Institute but later lived in Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Arlington, VA, before moving, upon retirement, to Sedona, AZ with her husband, Jack Baxter in 1996. She traveled extensively in Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Europe for her job with the IMF, and she and her husband, Jack, also traveled widely in North and South America. She was an exceptional artist not only in the standard definition of the word, but also an artist at life, who found beauty everywhere and helped others to see beauty in unique ways also. She was filled with both kindness and laughter, and had a wonderful sense of humor, all of which she shared with all who knew her. Throughout her 23-year struggle with Parkinsons she retained that joy, sense of fun, and love of life. Elizabeth cared deeply for her family and friends, always doing all she could to help. Her holiday celebrations were memorable for everyone who attended them, not only because they were perfect in every detail, but also because they were fun-filled occasions. She was a loving and much-loved wife, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, and friend. Elizabeth is survived by her husband, Jack, and her two sisters, Kay Berdaus of Winchester, VA and Celeste Basile of Matteson, IL. She is also survived by a large extended family, including her brother-in-law, Richard Berdaus of Winchester, VA, and her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. A memorial service will be held on June 20, 2016 at 11:00 oclock at St. John Vianney Church in Sedona, AZ. Her husband, Jack, and her family thank her physicians, the nurses and doctors of Barrow Neurological Center in Phoenix, Verde Valley Medical Center, and Valley View Care, all of whom have given her wonderful care, and also thank friends and neighbors for their generosity and concern during this time. Memorials in her memory may be directed to Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological. Greers Mortuary in Sedona is in charge of arrangements.