Richard Allan Baxley

Richard Allan “Rick” Baxley was born in Alexandria, VA in 1949 to Naff and Irene Baxley and Rick always considered himself a southern gentleman, in the best ways. He passed surrounded by his family on October 19 after ten weeks of fighting pancreas and liver problems. His self-described ‘unconventional lifestyle’ will be most missed by his wife, Karen Ponsell Baxley, and daughter, Baylor Baxley, of Frederick, MD.

Rick graduated from Alexandria’s Groveton High in 1966, then attended Beckley Junior College for two years before transferring to West Liberty College (now University) in West Virginia. He studied education between antics with his TKE fraternity brothers and other Hilltoppers.

After the college parties ended, Rick soon landed a dream position in film distribution at Paramount Pictures in Alexandria. He said he was one of the ‘little people’ in the entertainment world, one of those the Oscar winners thank ‘and to all the people behind the scenes.’ One of his favorite mementoes is an envelope from The White House when he arranged for the president to view a Paramount film. Rick later worked for Orion when he dazzled his new girlfriend Karen by taking her to the local premiere of Dances with Wolves. Rick and Karen often went to Ocean City MD where Rick shared many many stories of his favorite summer job as a bellhop at the Belmont-Hearne. A sharp dresser like his father,even as a kid Rick allegedly could play ball with the neighborhood kids and come back clean. As an adult he could fish, golf, eat Maryland crabs, play fast-pitch softball or croquet, and still come home spotless. He enjoyed attending any and all sporting events, especially getting press passes from a journalist friend. Rick attended every event fashionably dressed with a matching watch.

Rick moved to Frederick and in 1993 married Karen. For many years they enjoyed road trips, antiquing, visiting families, and hanging with TKE brothers and families on a porch in Wheeling WV , or in their timeshare at Hilton Head. Rick was FINALLY ready to get another dog around the turn of the century, and Standard Poodle Vinny became Rick’s constant companion. Rick had no siblings or babysitting experience, but he had dog training to lean on when his daughter Baylor was born in 2001, often mentioning he raised her just like a puppy. Just as Rick was a self-taught musician, making music the first time he tickled a keyboard or plinked a dulcimer, he picked up ‘daddying’ naturally: feed her this and get gas,make this sound and get chuckles.

Always an avid driver, as soon as his girl could look out the front windshield, Rick and Baylor took off: Baker Park, duck ponds, picnics, shoe shopping at the ‘big mall’, lunch downtown, basketball courts, any and everywhere. Leasing a sports car was still at the top of the last edition of his bucket list. Rick often said his fondest memories were of chauffeuring Baylor and her friends to and from practices so he could listen to the giggles and stories, often including “Mr. Rick, are we going to stop for slushies today?”

A life-long fan of the Washington NFL team, UMD Terps, and any golf played in an English-speaking country, Rick registered Baylor for t-ball as soon as she was old enough, then for soccer the next year (KICK the ball, it’s not a puppy!). She enjoyed soccer and the next thing Rick knew he was co-coaching a sport he’d never played. He picked it up quickly and coached for several more years in the GVAA league. Ever a list maker, Rick began the first of many notebooks dedicated to team rosters, positions, game commentary, and even coaching points. Baylor played basketball for many years so she and her daddy could enjoy his favorite sport, but once she discovered and fell in love with field hockey, Rick pivoted and learned yet another new sport well enough to be a scorekeeper. In 2019 Baylor decided to play field hockey at Hood College, so Rick traded in his Walkersville Lions gear for the Hood Blazers and continued to watch her play, attending every game even as she became an assistant coach. Rick quickly became known for his post-game rounds at the tailgates, making sure he talked to every player and their parents and was usually the last one to leave. As sports were the cornerstone to conversations between Rick and Baylor, when Baylor accepted a head coaching position, Rick grinned and shouted for the umpteenth time, “that’s MY girl” feeling like an ode to all the times they spent on the road to and from practices, all the hours spent together talking and watching sports.

Visitation will be at 10:00 AM on Monday October 27 at Stauffer Funeral Home, 40 Fulton Avenue in Walkersville MD with a service beginning at 11 followed by a reception with light refreshments. Burial service will be held privately.

Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.