Mary Venita Baggett

Celebrating A Life Well lived

Mary Baggett was born on January 11, 1927 in Kaufman, TX to M.E. and Ida Kyser Dorsey. She departed this life of December 14, 2025. “Grandmary” brought joy, kindness, and love to all who knew her.

Life and Legacy

Mary was one of 10 children born on a farm in Kaufman, TX. The family then moved to Terrell, TX where she attended school. She later attended Harding College in Searcy, AR, where she met and married Richard F. Baggett. She and Richard went on to be missionaries in Japan from 1950- 1958. During this time, Mary birthed a child at home in Ibaraki, Japan with only a midwife in attendance.

She and Richard moved back to the States in 1958 and continued their ministry at Coleman Ave. Church of Christ in Memphis, TN, and then at Sunset School of Preaching (now Sunset International Bible Institute) in Lubbock, TX until Richards’s death in 1988.

She was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and great- great- grandmother.

Mary was a library assistant at Overton Elementary School in Lubbock for many years. She enjoyed reading to the children and making decorations for the library. She was also a CASA volunteer. Children at risk were close to her heart, as was Christian education.

Mary enjoyed music, painting, and hosting dinner parties for visiting missionaries.

Survived By:

She is survived by her son, Richard B. Baggett and wife, Denise; daughter Carol Ward and husband, Jacky; and son Nolan B. Baggett and wife, Sandra. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren, 11, great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. They will carry forward her inspirational legacy and honor her memory into the future.

A Family Visitation will be held on Friday, January 9, 2026 from 5 to 8 pm at Resthaven Funeral Home, 5740 19th Street, Lubbock, TX.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1 pm Saturday, January 10, 2026 at South Plains Church of Christ, 6802 Elkhart, Lubbock, TX 79424.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Sunset International Bible Institute, 3723 34th St, Lubbock, TX 79410 (http://www.shelbygiving.com/App/Form/05e7eba0-9942-4e19-b3c8-b4c0855f05c0) in Mary’s memory, continuing her dedication to the work of God’s Kingdom. She will be deeply missed but never forgotten. Her spirit will live on in all who knew her.