Stella Ann Baxter

Stella Ann Baxter, 82, of Hebbardsville, closed her eyes on September 18, 2026, surrounded by her family, then opened them to see family she had been yearning for on the other side.

Stella was born on December 19, 1943, to the late Henry Clay and Stella Catherine Yancy. She was the eldest of five children.

On October 15, 1959, she married her late husband, Jimmy Royce Baxter. They moved on top of the hill in Hebbardsville, where they raised their two boys, wrangled all the neighborhood kids, played Rook every Saturday night, and hosted many family gatherings, yet always had a fresh pot of coffee ready in case anyone dropped by.

Stella spent 33 years driving a bus for Henderson County Schools. She hauled many children for Hebbardsville, East Heights, County High, and the work program. After she retired from the bus garage, she went to work part-time at GRADD and spent many Saturday nights working and dancing at the Gathering Place.

Stella loved fishing in the Green River, both on the bank and running trotlines in the boat. In her younger years, she won a fishing tournament for Henderson County by catching the most catfish by weight.

Stella went deer hunting every year; if she enjoyed it depended on if she saw any deer or not. She really enjoyed deer hunting on days she got to tag a deer.

When she wasn't fishing or hunting, she could be found at rummage sales or thrift shops hunting for treasure.

Stella never missed an opportunity to cheer on her Kentucky Wildcats or rock her UK apparel.

Along with her parents and husband of 48 years, Stella was preceded in death by her son, Jeffrey Dale Baxter; her sisters, Carla Hughes and Linda Gordon; and her husband, Harry; and brother-in-law, Billy Risley.

Stella left behind her son, Jimmy Allen Baxter and his wife, Karen Baxter; her loving sister and neighbor, Donna Risley; her brother, Dennis Clay Yancy and his wife, Lena; her grandchildren, Ian and Cammy Snow, Roger and Jennifer Baxter, and Brandon Baxter; her great-grandchildren, Alicia Brinkley, James Michael Snow, Alexis Berry (Houston), Thomas Allen Snow, Ally Baxter, and Erika Biddle; her great-great-granddaughters, Nora Ann Snow and Marceline Bonn Snow; and so many cherished nieces and nephews, plus all of "her kids" she hauled on the school bus over the years.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to St. Anthony's Hospice.

Her grandson, Roger Allen Baxter, will be giving the eulogy.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 23, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in Cash Creek Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Ian, Roger, James, Thomas, Alexis, and Ally, with Cammy and Jennifer serving as honorary pallbearers.