John Otis Baxter

1927 - 2025

John Otis Baxter

September 2, 1927 - July 24, 2025

John Otis Baxter, a historian, rancher and family man, passed away peacefully at age 97 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

John was born in Chicago, but moved to Washington, D.C. with his mother and younger sister Joanna following the early death of his father from spinal meningitis. John's mother Mary subsequently married Judge Herbert Goodrich, a distinguished Appellate Court judge in the Third Circuit and the family relocated to Philadelphia. John attended school in Philadelphia and then would board the train to spend the summer on his grandfather's ranch south of Harlowton. John learned to love ranching alongside his cousins Warren "Buck" Jones and Jane Law (Glennie) under the watchful eye of their uncle Bob Baxter.

After a brief military service overseas, John graduated from Princeton University and then returned to Montana. He married Mary K. White in 1957 and moved to the McFarland White Ranch outside of Two Dot. His daughters Sarah and Betsy were born in 1959 and 1962. John spent these years ranching and occasionally participating in local rodeos and roping jackpots.

John and Mary K. divorced in 1966 and John eventually settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico. There he earned a Ph.D. in history and became a respected research historian and author on the American Southwest. His books and preservation work on New Mexico's culture and water history are widely recognized.

During 56 years living in Santa Fe, John had a rich social life. An avid outdoorsman and birder, he was a member of the hiking group known as the Santa Fe Chile and Marching Society. A music lover, he regularly attended the Santa Fe Opera, knew the lyrics to countless country songs and enjoyed listening to Tejano tunes on road trips with his daughters throughout New Mexico. John looked forward to evenings on the dance floor at La Fonda, and if one watches closely it is possible to see him in a couple of scenes in the movie "Silverado." He will be remembered for his intellectual vigor, storytelling, love of land, and dedication to family and friends.

John is survived by his wife, Betty Baxter; daughters Sarah Baxter (Jeremy Shields), and Betsy Baxter; grandson John Baxter; step-daughters Sophie Martin (Brian Carnes), and Claire Martin (Todd Thedinga); step-granddaughter Frances Thedinga; stepchildren Jane Schwartz Maclean, Andy Schwartz and Nikki Schwartz; and a large extended family of step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his second wife, Lenore Schwartz Baxter, his brother, Pete Goodrich, and his sister, Joanna Henderson.

A celebration of life will be held in Santa Fe in October. For service information and to rsvp, please visit https://johnobaxtermemorial.rsvpify.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Historic Santa Fe Foundation.