Anita H. Baxter

In Loving Memory of Anita H. Baxter Our hearts are profoundly heavy and utterly hollowed as we announce the passing of our beloved Anita H. Baxter. A woman of unwavering strength, boundless love, and fierce determination, Anita left an indelible mark on every room she entered, every cause she championed, and every life she touched. Her presence was never unnoticed-she stood tall in her beliefs, loved with intense loyalty, and devoted herself wholeheartedly to her family and her cherished community of New Hartford. Anita passed away peacefully on Friday, February 28, 2025, after a brief illness. She was 80 years old. Born on November 15, 1944, in Wintersville, OH, she was the daughter of the late Herbert and Blodwyn (Richards) Hock. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio State University before embarking on a life of love and purpose. In 1968, she married the love of her life, William F. Baxter, and together they built a family rooted in love, strength, and shared dedication. A pillar of her community, Anita was a trailblazer. She served ten years on the Board of Selectmen, making history as the first woman to hold the role of First Selectman, a position she carried with grace and conviction for six years. She played a vital role in the acquisition of Brodie Park, ensuring a lasting legacy for generations to come. Beyond public service, she owned and operated Baxter Communications, where her talent for consulting and presentation made a lasting impact. Anita's passion for giving back extended far beyond her professional life. She devoted her time to the Northwest CT Community Foundation, the Women & Girls Fund, and served as a trustee of Northwest Community Bank. She was an avid reader, an eager traveler, and above all, a woman who found her greatest joy in the company of her family and friends. Anita's love story with Bill spanned 57 wonderful years, a testament to their unwavering partnership. Together, they faced life's joys and challenges, side by side, never wavering. She is survived by her devoted husband, William Baxter; her beloved children, Bart Baxter and his wife Jeanine, and Allison Baxter Bannerman, all of New Hartford; and her treasured grandchildren, Alex, Alivia, Aiden, Asa, Tucker, Tyler, and Liam. She also leaves behind her loving siblings, Julie Kucer and husband Tom, and Jerry Hock and wife Debbie, along with many nieces and nephews. She is reunited in peace with her parents and her late sister, Tina Chanter, and her husband Bert. Though our hearts are deflated by her absence, our lives will forever be filled with the words, wisdom, laughter, and lessons Anita so generously shared. She showed the way, and her light will never dim. Friends may call on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at Montano-Shea Funeral Home, 5 Steele Road, New Hartford, from 3 – 7 PM. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at St. John's Episcopal Church, 51 Church Street, New Hartford, at 11 AM, followed by a reception at Raymond Family Farm, 18 Ramstein Road, New Hartford, from 12 – 3 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Anita's name to the Women & Girls Fund at yournccf.org. "May her love, strength, and spirit live on in all who knew her." To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Anita, please visit our Tree Store.