Biography: Lora Ann Baxley was born July 17, 1955, in Little Rock, Arkansas to the late Edwin Lee and Helen Joyce Ederington Baxley. She passed away at her home on January 28, 2018. When she was young, Lora Ann showed unusual athletic promise. She swam at two, then led the First United Methodist's basketball team to victories, cheered as the mascot at games with Hall High Varsity cheerleaders at age eight, enjoyed ballet lessons, especially her performances at Robinson Auditorium, for over six years, and participated in many sports. Lora Ann started playing tennis at age 12. She took three lessons and won the Arkansas State Novice Tournament. From then on, she played almost daily at the Country Club of Little Rock with a wonderful group of lifelong friends. Although she was outstanding in many sports, as she grew older, tennis became her passion. Lora Ann was a fierce competitor on the tennis court. While in high school, she won the Arkansas High School Girls State Tennis Tournament three consecutive years, when she was a sophomore, junior, and senior. She also won many Arkansas junior state tournaments. In 1971, she won the Southern Girls Tennis Tournament an all south tournament in Chattanooga, TN, and was ranked #1 in the South in Girls 16's singles. She was also nationally ranked by the United States Lawn Tennis Association in the Girls 16 singles. That year, she received the Raymond Rebsamen & Herschel Friday Award in recognition of ability and excellence in junior tennis and achievements in sportsmanship, character, and citizenship. She received Pulaski County's Outstanding Athletic Award for two consecutive years. Lora Ann's achievements date back to winning #1 in the state singles and doubles when she played in the 14's, 16's, 18's, womens and mixed double divisions. She played tournaments in Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Wisconsin, New York, Puerto Rico, and Florida. She trained with Nick Bollettieri at his summer tennis camps in Wisconsin during junior high and high school. Lora Ann graduated from Hall High School in Little Rock in 1973. She attended American University in Washington, D.C., the University of South Florida, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She taught tennis under Nick Bollettieri at the renowned Dorado Beach Club in Puerto Rico, as well as Bollettieri Academies in Bradenton, FL. Tennis opened the door to extraordinary opportunities and events. These included being one of four pros to play a U.S. Open sponsored exhibition in New York City in 1975. Also, for part of the summers of 1974 and 75, Lora Ann lived at the estate of Vice-President Nelson Rockefeller, giving tennis lessons to his sons, wife, and bodyguard. She attended the United Nations 13th Annual Concert and dinner honoring the U.N. ambassadors. Lora Ann had fun playing tennis with pros like Arthur Ashe and Stan Smith, who thrilled her at a party saying, "Lora Ann, you have great moves on the court, let's see how you move on the dance floor." Lora Ann returned to Little Rock after her father died. She taught tennis at West Side Tennis Club, Chenal Country Club, and Rebsamen Tennis Center. During this time, some of her favorite students were over the over 60's women group, Baxley's Bombers, which included Honey, her mother. Lora Ann was a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association, as well as the United States Tennis Association. In 1983, she received the Victor Sheshunoff Meritorious Education Award in recognition of outstanding service to the tennis education program by a teaching professional. She continued to love coaching and playing in team tennis leagues. She and Linda Sneed were ranked #1 in Doubles in 1990, 91,92, and in the women's 35. They played at the nationals at the 5.0 level. Over 30 years, Lora Ann taught hundreds of students around the country. Many of top Arkansas juniors became highly ranked in and out of state. Lora Ann was devoted to her family. She adored her niece, nephew, and great niece and nephews. She was known for her kindness, generosity, and infectious sense of humor. She enjoyed playing with and spoiling her niece and nephew, traveling, reading, and fishing with her brother, Edwin, who proceeded her in death. Lora Ann is survived by her sister, Joyce Baxley Aldworth (John Childs Aldworth) of Clinton, Arkansas, and Harpswell, Maine, and her beloved niece, Dr. Anna Childs Aldworth Davis (Dr. Charles Austin Davis, Jr.) and their children, Carolyn and Baxley of Tuscon, Arizona. She is also survived by her beloved nephew, John Baxley Aldworth (Linda Lu Aldworth) and their son, Fletcher of Taipei, Taiwan and Little Rock, Arkansas. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home 6313 W. Markham St., Little Rock, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you celebrate Lora Ann's life by considering a donation to First United Methodist Church, 723 Center St, Little Rock, AR 72201, or to Camp Aldersgate, 2000 Aldersgate Rd., Little Rock, AR 72205, or to Pulaski County Humane Society, 14600 Colonel Glenn Rd., Little Rock, AR 72210. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.