Henry Samuel Baxter

Henry Samuel Baxter, 89, longtime Seminole resident died Thursday, February 25, 2016 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He was born November 8, 1926 in Le Flore, Oklahoma to Oscar Baxter and Josephine (French) Baxter. He grew up and spent most of his life in the Le Flore  area. Henry was a man of many talents. He was a rancher, a cowboy, and cross country truck driver, and worked for Seminole county district 1 and 2 and worked construction for the Stafford brothers and Shane Azlin as a heavy equipment operator. Henry enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, horseback riding and playing with his great-grandchildren. He was a member of the Twin Oak Baptist Church, north of Seminole, Oklahoma. He joined the U.S. Army on September 28, 1944 and served until December 5, 1946. He was a Staff Sergeant and served in the 51st Military Police Battalion and was stationed in Okinawa until the peace treaty was signed, and then he was sent to Korea on occupational duty. During his tour of duty in Okinawa, he served as a jeep driver for General Douglas MacArthur. He married Wanda Oleta (Wilson) Baxter on April 12, 1950 in Waldron, Arkansas. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Wanda Baxter of Seminole, Oklahoma; four daughters JoEllen Shoop and her husband Robert of Spiro, Oklahoma, Janis Lindley and her husband Ciifford of Holdenville, Oklahoma, Beverley Baxter-Smith of Meeker, Oklahoma and Tammie Baxter of Seminole, Oklahoma, six grandchildren Sheila Morton, Justin Shoop, Wesley Lindley, Michael Lindley, Rodney Smith and Rusty Smith and eight wonderful great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters; Florene Pruett, Betty Jo Gibson, Mildred Wilson and his son Henry “Sam” Baxter. Funeral services are set for 10:30 A.M., Monday, February 29, 2016 at the Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma with Bill Chesser officiating. Burial will follow at Little Cemetery north of Seminole. The family will receive friends and family at a visitation on Sunday, February 28, 2016 for 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. Casket bearers will be Justin Shoop, Wesley Lindley, Michael Lindley, Rodney Smith, Rusty Smith and Wesley Morton. Honorary bearers will be Blaine Morton, Sammy Luker, and Elijah Smith. Special contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Public visitation will be Saturday, February 27, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 28, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Funeral Information: February 29, 2016, 10:30 AM Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel 10:30 A.M., Monday, with a family visitation on Sunday from 2 to 4 P.M. located at 1001 N. Milt Phillips Ave., Seminole, OK 74868