Mary C. Baxter, 81, passed away at Lourdes Hospital on Friday, December 20, 2002. She was born in Elmira, N.Y., the daughter of Mary and Francis Cahill. She is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Eugene Baxter; son and daughter-in-law, William and Barbara Baxter, Coxsockie, N.Y.; son and daughter-in-law, David and Julie Baxter, Washingtonville, N.Y.; daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and Allan Beckmann, Wappingfalls, N.Y.; daughter and son-in-law, Maureen and John Timko, Port Crane, N.Y.; and son and daughter-in-law, Edward and Diane Baxter, Jefferson, Mass; and eight grandchildren, Michael Baxter, Allan Beckmann, Carolyn Beckmann, Daniel Baxter, Joseph Baxter, Melinda Beckmann, Kerry Baxter and Colin Baxter. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and proud grandmother. She married Eugene Baxter on June 25, 1949. Mary received a Bachelors Degree in Music in 1943 and spent her life involved in music education. She taught elementary classroom music in the Vestal School District for 14 years and taught music in Elmira and Roscoe prior to getting married. She was an avid supporter of the arts in the Triple Cities as a member of the Binghamton Symphony Board and as a teacher at the Roberson Museum where she instituted "Adventures in Music" program at the Roberson Museum. Mary was one of the founders of the "Lets Dance Club."
Funeral services will be held Monday, at the Barber Memorial Home, Inc., 428 Main St., Johnson City at 9 a.m., and at 9:30 a.m. at St. James Church where a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will be in Vestal Hills Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Barber Memorial Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her memory may be made to the United Parkinson's Foundation, 220 S. State St., Chicago, Ill. 60604, or the Hospice Program at Lourdes Hospital, 169 Riverside Dr., Binghamton, N.Y. 13905.