Emily Ann Baxter

Emily Ann Matkovich Baxter, 83, was born November 29, 1921, in Page, New Mexico near McGaffey at the farm of her parents, Frank J.  and Anna Dukart Matkovich.   She died  September 11, 2005  at her home in Prescott after a brief illness. When Emily was five,  her family, including younger brother, Frank Junior (Bud),  moved to McGaffey where her dad worked at the sawmill and her mother cooked and did laundry for the sawmill workers.  Emily started 1st grade at McGaffey and then at age nine moved to Gallup, NM where she attended Sacred Heart grade school.  She graduated from Cathedral High School in Gallup in 1938 and went on to Phoenix to Weavers Beauty School to become a Beautician.  She worked at a beauty shop in Phoenix until World War II broke out; she then moved back to Gallup to help her family and worked at the El Morro Beauty Shop. During the war she met Myron Moberg.   They married after the war was over and moved  to his hometown in Huron, South Dakota where she again worked at a beauty salon.  In 1950 her only daughter, Sharon (Sherry) was born.    Emily and her family moved back to Gallup in 1954 where she resumed work at the El Morro Beauty Shop.  A few years after the move, Myron died leaving Emily alone to raise her daughter. A few years later her dad passed on so her mother moved in with her and daughter, Sherry. Emily purchased the Beauty Nook hair salon in Gallup and worked there for many years.  She was active in her profession attending Hair Styling Shows and conferences.  She was a member of BPW (Business and Professional Women) and of Fortuna (Women's Stock Investment Club). She was a member of Sacred Heart Parish and assisted with school functions, working Bingo weekly to raise funds for the high school. On October 11, 1975, Emily married Charles (Charlie) E. Baxter. After selling the Beauty Nook and her home in Gallup, they moved to Charlie's home in Albuquerque where they added on an apartment to the house for her mother, Anna, until her mother's death in 1980. In 1985 Emily and Charlie moved to Prescott, Arizona to be near her daughter, Sherry Moberg Baca and new granddaughter, Jamie.  Two years later a second granddaughter, Jennifer was born.    Emily remained in Prescott until her death.  She was a member of the Prescott Elks Lodge #330 and a regular worker at their Bingo for several years.   Emily's joy in life was her husband and family.  She was always involved in craft projects over the years including crocheting, embroidery, and plastic canvas.  She was very proud of her entire plastic canvas Christmas village.  Emily was an expert seamstress and made clothes for everyone in the family.  She was an excellent cook and enjoyed entertaining family and friends in the house Charlie and she built.  During their retirement years,  they spent twelve years traveling in their RV all over the country.   Emily is survived by her husband of 30 years, Charlie Baxter, her daughter, Sherry Moberg Baca and son-in-law, Ed Baca of Prescott; her granddaughters, Jamie Baca of Tempe, AZ, and Jennifer Baca of Prescott.   She is also survived by Charlie's son & wife,  Paul & Rachael Baxter of Los Lunas, NM and their children:  Melissa, Kaylee, and "little" Charlie;   Charlie's daughter & husband, Susan and Art Carbine of Leesburg, Virginia and their children and families:  Deanna Howard, Elaine Jameson,  Tara Carbine, and Aaron Carbine.   Emily was preceded in death by her brother, Frank J. Matkovich, Jr. in 1947, her dad Frank J. Matkovich in 1957, and her mother, Anna Dukart Matkovich in 1980.   Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 14th at Arizona RuffnerWakelin Funeral Home, corner of Cortez and Carleton Streets, Prescott. A Celebration of Emily?s life will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, September 15, 2005 at the Prescott Elk?s lodge, 6245 E. Highway 69, Prescott Valley. Burial will be at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, September 15th  at Mountain View Cemetery in Prescott.   The family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Prescott Elks Lodge #330, P.O. Box 27199, Prescott Valley, Arizona 86312 or Yavapai Regional Medical Center Hospice, P.O. Box 26565, Prescott Valley, AZ 86312-6565.