Don E. Baxter 06/08/1937 - 02/20/2026
Don E Baxter
06/08/1937 - 02/20/2026
Preceded in death by parents Sam and Jewel Baxter, mother and father-in-law, Nelle and Alvin Brown, brother John and wife Olga Baxter, sister and brother-in-laws: Betty and Sharky Cox, Melba and Jack Bruce, Genny and husbands Jack Kidd and Tom Begley, sister-in-laws Becky Davis and Anne Mills and grandson Cody Dale Saunders.
Born in Raven’s Branch, Cocke County TN to parents Sam and Jewel Baxter his family moved to Blount County in 1943.
He attended elementary school at Raven’s Branch Elementary, Miser Station and Union Grove Elementary. Don graduated from Friendsville High School in 1955.
He left for Detroit Michigan immediately after his high school graduation where he attended trade school and apprenticed, eventually becoming a Tool and Die Maker for the Fisher Body division of General Motors.
In 1966 Don moved back to Blount County, where he wanted to be. He worked for more than 20 years at the Y-12 Plant in Oak Ridge, where he retired from. While there he worked on the Moon Boxes that were used to bring rocks and sediment back during NASA's Apollo program. Other programs he was involved with were: (REDACTED).
In 1993 while attending a work Christmas party with his niece Lori, he met his wife of 32 years, Billie Brown Saunders.
Don loved and was loved by the large combined family that he and Billie shared. He was a very proud Father, Grand Father and Great Grand Father.
Their Children: Preston and Kimberlee Baxter. Bradley and Amber Baxter. Mary and Howard Day. Betty and Steve McKenzie. Richard and Angie Saunders
Their Grand Children: Ellee and Ian (Preston and Kimberlee). Natalie Foshie, Ava and Jacklyn (Bradley and Amber). Dustin and Robin Maples; Danielle and Nick Payne (Betty and Steve). Cody Dale Saunders and Tyler Best (Richard and Angie).
Their Great Grand Children: Harper and Bryer Payne (Danielle and Nick)
Don was a loving uncle to many nieces and nephews and extended family that loved him dearly.
Don loved boating, camping and spending time with friends and family on the lake or in the mountains. It has been said that he “taught half of Blount County to water ski”. He loved sharing experiences with people he loved. He especially loved sharing his homeplace in Cocke County. He enjoyed off-road motorcycle and four-wheeler riding and he would take anyone that wanted to go with them. His favorite place to camp was in "The Gulf," which is now the Martha Sundquist State Forest.
He and Billie built a cabin on Raven’s Branch near where the house he was born in stood. They spent many weekends and vacations at the cabin and even hosted yearly family reunions there.
Don loved accompanying Billie over the last 16 years on Monday visits to local nursing homes while she played piano, “for the old folks” as he would say, with the Friendship Choir.
Don and Billie attended the Friendsville United Methodist Church for over 25 years (where Billie played the piano) and he missed very few Sundays. As an usher and eventually a greeter, he looked forward to ringing the church bell every week and he kept meticulous attendance number records for the church.
The Family would like to thank his nurses from Clinch River Home Health, Beth and Katrina and his hospice nurse Lindsey for providing him with excellent care.
Also a special thank you to neighbors Vicki and Larry Wilson who have always gone above and beyond to help and will probably get mad if they see this. Thank you Vicki!
The family will receive friends on Monday February 23, 2026 from 5:00pm-6:30pm with a service to follow at 6:30pm at Friendsville United Methodist Church. 204 E College Ave Friendsville, TN 37737.
In lieu of flowers please consider making donations to:
New Hope Baptist Church
℅ New Hope Young Adult Missions
605 Dotson Memorial Rd
Maryville, TN 37801
