Edwin (Ed) Fletcher Baxley

Edwin (Ed) Fletcher Baxley, was born January 28, 1952, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to the late Edwin Lee and Helen Joyce Ederington Baxley. He passed away from a heart attack at his home on Sunday, March 10, 2013. This was the same home in the Heights where he spent the first years of his life with his parents and older sister. He graduated from Berry Academy in Rome, Georgia, in 1970. He graduated from The University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a degree in Business with an emphasis in Finance. While in college, Ed was on the UALR Water Polo Team. Ed was a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association, as well as the United States Tennis Association. He was also a USTA Certified Referee for 25 years. Ed was employed at Rebsamen Tennis Center for the city of Little Rock. He began working as a tennis pro, and was promoted and served as Manager, Director, and Head Pro for the seventeen court facility until his retirement in 2011. Rebsamen Tennis Center was given the United States Tennis Association National Outstanding Tennis Facility of the Year Award. Rebsamen also hosted St. Vincent's Professional Men's Tennis Tournaments for many years, as well as high school and state tennis tournaments. Ed was respected and extremely popular with all those with whom he worked, and all the tennis players he knew. Ed was beloved by his friends and family for his kindness, sense of humor, honor, loyalty, and generosity (usually anonymous). He was called the sweetest person she knew by one friend and a gentle bear by another. He was a Methodist. He enjoyed tennis, golf, traveling, reading, fishing with Lora Ann, and spending time with his family, especially with Anna and Baxley. He is survived by two sisters, Lora Ann Baxley of Little Rock, Joyce Baxley Aldworth (John Childs Aldworth) of Clinton, Arkansas, and Harpswell, Maine, and his beloved niece and nephew, Dr. Anna Childs Aldworth Davis (Dr. Charles Austin Davis, Jr.) of Tucson, Arizona, and John Baxley Aldworth of Taipei, Taiwan. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 15, 2013, at 12 noon at Ruebel Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you honor Edwin's life by considering a donation to Camp Aldersgate, 2000 Aldersgate Road, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, or to one of your favorite charities. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.