Edwin (Ed) Fletcher Baxley


Deprecated: trim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/ruebel/public_html/obits/obituaries.php on line 271
Mar 10th, 2013

    Deprecated: trim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/ruebel/public_html/obits/obituaries.php on line 279
  • Death Date: Mar 10, 2013

  • Deprecated: trim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/ruebel/public_html/obits/obituaries.php on line 285

    Deprecated: trim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/ruebel/public_html/obits/obituaries.php on line 302
  • Save: Print this Obituary

Biography: Edwin (Ed) Fletcher Baxley, was born January 28, 1952, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to the late Edwin Lee and Helen Joyce Ederington Baxley. He passed away from a heart attack at his home on Sunday, March 10, 2013. This was the same home in the Heights where he spent the first years of his life with his parents and older sister. He graduated from Berry Academy in Rome, Georgia, in 1970. He graduated from The University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a degree in Business with an emphasis in Finance. While in college, Ed was on the UALR Water Polo Team. Ed was a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association, as well as the United States Tennis Association. He was also a USTA Certified Referee for 25 years. Ed was employed at Rebsamen Tennis Center for the city of Little Rock. He began working as a tennis pro, and was promoted and served as Manager, Director, and Head Pro for the seventeen court facility until his retirement in 2011. Rebsamen Tennis Center was given the United States Tennis Association National Outstanding Tennis Facility of the Year Award. Rebsamen also hosted St. Vincent's Professional Men's Tennis Tournaments for many years, as well as high school and state tennis tournaments. Ed was respected and extremely popular with all those with whom he worked, and all the tennis players he knew. Ed was beloved by his friends and family for his kindness, sense of humor, honor, loyalty, and generosity (usually anonymous). He was called the sweetest person she knew by one friend and a gentle bear by another. He was a Methodist. He enjoyed tennis, golf, traveling, reading, fishing with Lora Ann, and spending time with his family, especially with Anna and Baxley. He is survived by two sisters, Lora Ann Baxley of Little Rock, Joyce Baxley Aldworth (John Childs Aldworth) of Clinton, Arkansas, and Harpswell, Maine, and his beloved niece and nephew, Dr. Anna Childs Aldworth Davis (Dr. Charles Austin Davis, Jr.) of Tucson, Arizona, and John Baxley Aldworth of Taipei, Taiwan. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 15, 2013, at 12:00 p.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you honor Edwin's life by considering a donation to Camp Aldersgate, 2000 Aldersgate Road, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, or to one of your favorite charities. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

Condolences(23)
Rick (Ricky) F. Pratt
#23
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
I am so sorry that Edwin passed. He was a friend and my cousin. I want to extend my condolences to Joyce and Lora Ann. Not wanting to bring up sadness, but I just searched and saw that Edwin passed and needed to make an attempt to reach out to you.

Steele Hays
#22
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Edwin was a wonderful person and friend. We have been out of touch for many years, and I just learned of his death in Feb. 2014. We spent many good times together in the late 70s, at Travelers games, at his Palm Street house, camping together in the Ozarks and Ouachitas, fishing, at Joyce and Jock's house in North Arkansas. He was a great, warm, true friend. Rest in peace.
Jim Peterson
#21
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Truly good guys are hard to find. He was one of them. He was funny, easy going, and good to be around. Rest in peace, Edwin.
Sharon West
#20
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
I so appreciated Ed's kindness and generosity to my son when he worked at Rebsamen Tennis Center. Very special memories of conversations with Ed, who no doubt positively influenced and encouraged so many of those he encountered each day. Prayers for you, Lora Ann, and your family during these difficult days. May you feel God's presence and rest in His promise of eternity.
Toni Diavatopoulos
#19
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Lora Ann,

I am so sorry to hear about your brother. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you during this time.
Jean and Rob Robinson
#18
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Lora Ann,
You are in our thoughts and prayers. We always enjoyed visiting with Edwin at the tennis center. His great smile and love of tennis was a delight.
Jean and Rob Robinson
Shari Butzlaff
#17
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
I am truly saddened to hear of Ed's passing!
I have so many wonderful memories at Rebsamen, and I will always cherish those times with this wonderful, heart of gold man! You will be missed Ed Baxley!! Prayers of comfort to you Lora Ann and family.
Leslie Peacock
#16
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
I loved hearing "Forever Young" at the memorial, Lora Ann and Joyce. I would love to relive the old days amd be young again with Edwin, at 2111 N. Palm, laughing so much and listening to music and not knowing what difficulties of adult life lay ahead of us. We had few cares and lots of love. I think I can claim to speak for Stan and Wythe as well as Katherine. We were together at that great time of life when everything is before us. Edwin was always sweet, always funny, sometimes a hard nut to crack. Alice Newell loved him dearly, too.
Holly Parker
#15
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
It is such a blessing to have known Ed from our childhood days on the Buffalo River to adulthood through tennis at Rebsamen. Throughout his life Ed was a benevolent peacemaker. "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God" Matthew 5:9
NoraAnn Goss
#14
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Ed, always greeted me with a smile and my name. All who entered Rebsamen felt welcome. Condolences to the family and especially Lora Ann whom he loved dearly. I learned to play and love tennis at Rebsamen. Ed was a great encourager to me...My prayers are with you...NoraAnn
Jane Lee
#13
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
I am so sorry for your loss and will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Jeff Thompson
#12
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
I worked with and for Ed at Rebsamen Tennis Center in college and enjoyed the experience- in many ways because it gave me an opportunity to get to know him.

Ed was a warm and friendly man who took the time to show the employed college students insight into the many aspects of business, service, city government, and employment. He personally showed me some basic tennis skills, including how to correctly serve and volley, and helped and encouraged me to play in one of the leagues at the center after work. He always had an ear for our problems and a job waiting whenever we were home from school.

I think fondly of those times and miss the many moments when Ed would have the "one-liners" or little comments and jabs that would leave me in stitches. I will tell a story or two on Ed; brief ones anyway.

Whenever Ed wanted to get lost during the day for one reason or another, he would always tell us that he was "going to the bank." Sometimes, a trip "to the bank" could last three or four hours! I don't know if he ever actually went to the bank, but that was his story and we stuck to it (I gave that explanation to more people more times than I could ever recall).

Another story came after my time working for Ed. I had gotten my first job in television, far from home. It was at a station in Helena, Montana. My plan was to jam whatever possessions I might need to live there into a compact car with an old U-Haul roof box. In the last days of packing, Ed called me in the hopes that he could rid himself of a 65 gallon aquarium. It was an offer I couldn't refuse- with some hard salesmanship from the tennis shop master. Sacrificing clothing, a vacuum, cookware, lamps, and other essentials, the car space was instead lost to a giant Ed Baxley aquarium, as the two of us struggled to lift and jam the heavy, cumbersome object into the vehicle. I hauled it two time-zones and it sat unused in my closet for two years in Montana until I finally had to donate it prior to my next move.

Ed, it was a pleasure knowing you and you will be missed. I will always think fondly on those times at the tennis center and all that you brought to our lives. Naturally, when people ask about you now, I know to tell them... Ed is at the bank. Aces my friend... aces.
Lori Snyder
#11
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Dear Lora Ann and the rest of the Baxley family,
What a loss! I am so saddened to hear about Ed. He was one of a kind! I had the pleasure of working with him at Rebsamen during The St Vincent's tennis tournament. He was the kindest most laid back guy I have ever met. I never heard him speak an unkind word about anyone. I used to love when Lora Ann would bring your sweet Mom out to watch the tennis. It was such a sweet family the way they all cared for each other so much. His loss will be felt throughout the community. Especially the tennis community. He is irreplaceablr. I grieve with you for your loss.he is now on a beautiful journey to meet up with his Mom and Dad. But will certainly be missed here.
With Love
Lor Snyder
Marilyn Michie Zornik
#10
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Edwin. You are truly the most amazing person I have come to know in the past few years. Your heart , your generosity and your love for others will never be forgotten. Will miss you terribly. Marilyn Zornik
Mary Reese Finley
#9
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
I have fond memories of growing up with Edwin at First Methodist Church. With sympathy to Lora Ann and Joyce.

Eric Sixbey
#8
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Ed was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. His concern was always about you and he always met you with a smile. The world needs more people like Ed. You will be truly missed.

The Sixbey Family
Pete Tanguay
#7
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
I am sad to hear of Ed's passing. He was one solid person. I have so many great memories of walking in to Rebsaman Tennis Center and hearing his laugh and seeing his smile. I had the opportunity to play some doubles with him when he played and worked closely with him to put on the St. Vincent USTA Pro Tennis tournament. In fact, he was the person who got me involved in this event. Thanks Ed. He is truly a "gone but never forgotten" person for me and his legacy will live on forever at Rebsamen. Rest in peace my friend.
Pam Andrews
#6
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
We were so sorry to hear of Ed's passing. I have known Ed since my beginning days of tennis about 30 years now. He always had a word of quick wit and words of encouragement. We will truly miss him. Pam & John Andrews
Robert V. Gay, Sr.
#5
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
After working with Ed at RTC for several years, I finally got to know, and care about, my childhood next-door-neighbor. My only childhood recollection of Ed was the rumor that he was throwing rocks on the top of Pat Riley's house. After leaving RTC, our long-distance friendship remained constant, and he will be sorely missed for his wonderful contributions to my life. In all my time at RTC, I think I beat Ed one set in tennis. He was a very big man in more ways than one. God bless Ed, and please comfort the ones left behind.
Eddie Cole
#4
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
I am sorry to hear of Ed's passing. He will be missed. Ed and I had the opportunity to work with each other for several years. Ed was not only a co-worker, but also a true friend. I always enjoyed stopping by the Tennis Center to visit with Ed. He was one with a great attitude and pleasant smile. Your family will be in my prayers.

Eddie Cole
Katherine Matthews
#3
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
I have always loved Edwin and i always will.
See you soon Edwin.
Nancy
#2
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Lora Ann, Joyce, Jock, Anna and Baxley. I did not know Edwin that well, but wish I had, for in the brief time I spent with him, I knew he was truly a loving, kind fine fella. May he rest in Peace and be remembered with Joy.
Love, Nancy
Pam Greer
#1
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Please know my prayers are with you the family that will miss him so much. He was a great guy and always willing to help in any problem that arose from court changes to throwing some strings on a racket!! A truly nice guy. God bless Pam

Leave your Condolence




Light a Candle


* Enter verification code
Mathematical catpcha image
=
Top