Kelly Lorraine Baggett

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — Kelly Lorraine Baggett, 59, passed away suddenly on Monday, April 9, 2018, in Bonita Springs, Florida. Kelly was born in Dover, Delaware in 1958, graduated from The Shipley School, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and the University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont.

Shortly after gradution, Kelly joined the United States Forest Service, where she served for 31 years in forest health research, first in Burlington, Vermont (24 years) and later in Delaware, Ohio (seven years). During her long and productive career, she won many awards for her outstanding contributions in research pertaining to sugar maple decline and American elm restoration. Kelly wrote or co-wrote numerous scientific papers during her career, beginning in 1981. She received many awards due to outstanding or superior performance. She retired at age 56 due to a work-related disability and moved to Bonita Springs, Florida.

As a young person, Kelly was known for her outstanding tennis ability, turning down a full scholarship from the University of Delaware, because she knew she didn't want tennis to "become her life." At Shipley, she was an outstanding student, as well as a student leader, become co-editor of the yearbook and turning down the move to make her class president. As a senior, she was awarded the Havermeyer-Dobie Prize, voted on by both faculty and students, which was in essence for the "Best Boarder." The award stated, in part, "things simply go better when this girl is around."

Kelly bought an old brick house overlooking Lake Champlain in Burlington, and spent many hours working on it herself. She was an avid gardener and made her neighbors very happy by leaving beautiful vegetables on her picnic table for them to enjoy. She loved history and historical sites and was always planning a special trip with her mother. They travelled the world together. She was well-known as a great hostess and cook, loving to set a beautiful table, and making sure everyone had a good time. Another of her talents was poetry. She enjoyed writing an appropriate and funny poem to celebrate special events and retirement parties for her colleagues, and made sure the workplace was beautifully decorated for Christmas. Kelly loved to play jokes on her friends, such as putting a trio of plastic penguins out when it snowed or sometimes even a flamingo. Her greenhouse at the Forest Service in ohio was primarily for elm trees, but Kelly filled it with beautiful hanging baskets of colorful flowers as well.

Kelly is survived by her mother, Bonita (Bonnie) Baggett; her sister, Holly Ann Baggett; her half-brother, Curtis J. Baggett; and her special canine friend, Percy.

Private family funeral services will be held at Old Christ Church in Dover, Delaware at a later date. Contributions in Kelly's name can be made to The Nature Conservancy, nature.org. Condolences may be sent to the family at 1100 Lore Ave., #714, Wilmington, DE 19809.