Marla Dene Baxter

Marla Was the first daughter born to Richard and Dona Baxter October 2, 1957. Marla's early years were spent in Bovina, Texas. She showed an interest in cooking at a very early age making mud pies with the help of her cat. She loved to go with her dad to change water or ride in the tractor or combine, a real farm girl. She would ride in the truck with her mom to the elevator as she called it a "vadavader". She fell in love with butterflies calling them "flutterflies". Marla loved to be read to and her first day at school she came home disappointed that she couldn't immedidately learn to read. When Marla was three and a half, she was joined by her sister Christine in 1961. Early on she mothered her sister reading to her and bossing her. Our family then moved to Spearmon, Texas where Marla made fast friends and got involved in church and school activites. Marla and Christine would put on plays for their family and friends. Andrea joined her sisters in 1967, now Marla had a real life doll to play with. In 1969 the family moved to Springfield, Colorado; Marla jumped right into life full force participating in junior choir, girl scouts, 4-H, music,church, school and athletics. Marla was baptized, comfirmed and joined the First United Methodist Church and stayed a life long member. Marla followed in her mother's footsteps in playing french horn and later the trumpet in jazz band. She joined Rainbow for Girls becoming Worthy Advisor and Grand Assembly representative. In high school she excelled in academics, sports, band and various clubs. Music was the mainstay of her life, in school as well as in church. She was a member of the Joy Singers, singing several concerts with other youth groups. The trip the group made to Wasghinton, DC and New York were a highlight of her teen years. After graduation Marla attended CSU for medical research. In 1980 she was blessed with her beautiful daughter Nicole, the best gift she gave her family. In 1983, she went back to school to pursue her nursing career, graduating in 1986. In 1987 she moved back to Springfield joining the Southeast Colorado Hospital staff. Marla loved working in the ER, cardiac and surgery excelling in each and continuing her education along the way. As a single parent she attended all of Nicole's school activities, athletics, academics, organizations and music. Marla also helped her with 4-H projects and pagents she participated in; she was by her side in anything she wished to do. Marla still found time to share the love of cooking, preparing gourmet dinners with her friends. Marla and her mother started having tea parties which led to the annual Mothers Day Tea at the Methodist Church. After sending Nicole to college; Marla made a bold move in her nursing career by relocating. She took a position in Forks, Washington on the Olympic Penisula; she had the mountains to her back and the seashore at her feet. There she found new friends and new challenges; like when she got to deliver babies and work in the ER. She loved to go to the beach, seek out new vistas, read, go antiquing, started quilting and enjoyed all that Seattle had to offer. Marla found fast friends, good food and fun times. She loved to show off the Pacific Northwest to family and friends. In the spring of 2008 Marla found out she had ovarian cancer. Having major sugery and chemo she kept working the whold time. Her co-workers stated "she never complained when she wasn't feeling well and her feet were numb she still carried on". Then a year later she found the cancer had reoccurred. Although she was set to battle again with the support of family and friends it just wasn't meant to be. One of Marla's life long dreams was to walk her daughter down the aisle to exchange vows and seek true happiness. This came true on May 22nd when she and her father escorted Nicole in her and Brocks commitment ceremony. After a very special going away party and celebration of her life by family, friends and co-workers she left us and gained eternal life on July 16, 2009.