NAPLES, Fla. — Mary Jane Stuckey Baxter,

age 94, of Naples, Fla., passed away on Monday, January 15, 2024. Mary Jane, also known as Janie, or to her husband of 72 years “Madam Queen,” was born on July 14, 1929, to Wilma and Fred Stuckey of Lepanto, Ark.

Mary Jane is survived by her husband, William A. “Bill” Baxter, also of Naples, Fla.; three sons, William Thomas “Tom” Baxter (Trudy) of Little Rock, Ark., John Jeffrey “Jeff” Baxter (Rosemary) of Kelso, Ark., and Samuel Robert “Sam” Baxter (Lisa) of Little Rock; seven grandchildren, James Thomas Baxter (Jennifer) of Atlanta, Ga., John Travis Baxter (Savanna) of Little Rock, Martha Layne Baxter Cook of Little Rock, Mary Madelin Baxter Meiers (Gilles) of Austin, Texas, Richard Jeffrey Baxter (Sarah) of Cabot, Ark., William Robert Baxter (Arden) of Bentonville, Ark., and Samuel Rice Baxter (Sarah) of Little Rock; 11 great-grandchildren, Elsa Baxter, Lindy Baxter, Scarlett Baxter, Graham Baxter, Abby Cook, Carole Meiers, Eleanor Meiers, Walt Baxter, Blair Baxter, Grayson Baxter, and Theo Baxter. Gigi, as her great-grandchildren knew her, was excitedly anticipating the arrival of her twelfth great-grandchild next month.

Mary Jane is preceded in death by her parents, Wilma Claxton Stuckey and Thomas Fred Stuckey; and her older sister, Marquilla Stuckey Stringer.

Mary Jane attended high school at Ward Belmont in Nashville, Tenn., and spent her first year of college at Mary Baldwin. She then transferred to the University of Arkansas and graduated in 1950. While in Fayetteville she was the President of Pi Beta Phi sorority, a member of Mortar Board, and most importantly, it is where she met Bill. Mary Jane and Bill married on November 27, 1951. From 1951 to 1959 Mary Jane and Bill lived in Kelso, Ark., and in 1959 they moved into their new home in Dermott, Ark.

In 1983, Mary Jane and Bill began to spend time in Naples, Fla., and in 2000 they made Naples their permanent residence, living in their dream spot, Apartment G-812 at Moorings Park. Mary Jane was a lifelong Methodist and attended North Naples Church.

Mary Jane was the ultimate southern lady, the centerpiece of the Baxter family and a homemaker like no other. During the holidays and hunting season (another type of holiday season in Arkansas), she hosted countless meals for friends and family, always making room for a few more at her table. She enjoyed working crossword puzzles and sudoku, playing card games, walking the beach, shopping, going to church, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and their spouses. In the words of Bill, Mary Jane “never met a stranger,” “was the friendliest, most generous, outgoing person,” and “was the love of my life.”

The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Moorings Park, particularly those associated with Orchid Terrace, Lilac Care Unit and The Chateau.

Memorials can be made to the Mary Jane and Bill Baxter Endowed Fund at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 1 Children’s Way, Slot 661, Little Rock, Ark. 72201, or Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas and North Louisiana, 1501 W. 10th Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72201.

A memorial service will be held in Arkansas at a later date.