Michael Ray Baxter was born on November 12, 1948, at the US Naval Hospital in Portsmouth Virginia to Robert Porter Baxter and Bobbie White Baxter. He was born 3 ½ months pre-mature, but his father was a Pharmacist Mate at the hospital, so we’ve been told the doctors and nurses kept him spoiled.
His father, Robert Porter Baxter, was killed in auto accident in 1951 when Michael was a little over two years old. His mother, Bobbie White Baxter, re-married Roscoe B. Harrouff in 1952. They moved to the area in 1953 when GM offered workers more money to move and help finish and work at the GM plant in Arlington. His brother, Greg, was born in 1954 and shortly thereafter they moved to Grand Prairie.
In Grand Prairie, he had many dear, close friends, with some friendships now pushing 70 years. You would know who you are. He is now reunited with two of those dear friends, Bobby Brown, and Jon Brooks.
After High School, he was drafted into the Army and was sent down to Fort Bliss for basics training. He went into the Army in February of 1969 and then orders to Vietnam in June of 1969.
After leaving the Army, Michael moved back to North Texas and spent his career working as an estimator and project manager for Uvalde Construction, Austin Bridge and Road, and APAC Texas where he retired from. Michael enjoyed hunting and the outdoors, a love and passion that he has passed down to his kids and grandkids. Most of all, Michael loved his family and friends and cherished spending time with them.
His legacy will live on with all his friends and family, especially his son Shawn, and wife Jennifer, son Scott and wife Stephanie, and daughter Catherine and husband Ryan, and all his grandkids, Mason, Myles, Emily, Evan, Nolan, Lily, and the twins Lucas and Violet, and brother Greg Harrouff and wife Joyce.
He was part of a generation that will never come back. A generation that walked to school and then walked back. A generation that did their homework alone to get out ASAP to play in the street. A generation that spent all their free time on the street with their friends. A generation that played hide and seek when dark. A generation that made mud cakes. A generation that collected sports cards. A generation that found, collected, washed & returned empty coke bottles to a local grocery store for .05 cents each, then bought a Mountain Dew and candy bar with the money. A generation that made paper toys with their bare hands. A generation who bought vinyl albums to play on record players. A generation that collected photos and albums and clippings. A generation that played board and card games on rainy days. A generation whose TV went off at midnight after playing the National Anthem. A generation who had parents that were there. A generation that laughed under the covers in bed, so parents didn’t know we were still awake. A generation that is passing and unfortunately it will never return.
Rest in peace Dad, we love you!
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to your favorite veterans’ organization.
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