Birth date: Oct 14, 2000 Death date: Nov 28, 2018
Baxter Lewis Hennessy was born October 14th, 2000 in Springfield, Oregon. He lived in Eugene, OR until age 5, and Ashland, OR until age 9, before moving to University Place, WA, and then Puyallup, WA. Growing up, Baxter was invol Read Obituary
Baxter i miss you so much i wish you were still here i will never understand why but i know you are still in my heart and forever love you
I was Shannon's best friend in High School... The first and only time I got to experience the birth of a child was when Shannon gave birth to Baxter. He was such a beautiful boy! An experience that I have cherished throughout my life. Shannon and I have lost contact over the years and my mother informed me of his untimely passing. As a mother now myself, I feel so much empathy for Shannon and the entire family. My prayers are with you all. ❤️
Baxter you are and will always be very much part of our family. We will cherish all of our memories of you visiting us each year. You were truly an amazing friend to our son Xavier (he misses you so much). You will forever be in our hearts. May you rest in paradise. We love you.
Baxter was a sophomore when I met him as a student in my pre-calculus class at Emerald Ridge. His mathematical brilliance had landed him in a senior-level course and he quickly fit right in. He didn't just understand "how" to do math problems - he understood "why" and could easily see connections between concepts. I appreciated his inquisitive nature and quiet humor. If he ever asked a question, it was never, "Mrs. Shepard, how do I do this?" It was always something like, "I was thinking about what this would do if it was rotated around the origin. Do you agree that it would result in...?" Insight well beyond his years. With his long list of strengths, he had all sorts of opportunities for career choices, but I quietly hoped to see him as a colleague one day - teaching math and sharing his depth of knowledge and kind heart with future generations of kids.
When I got the call that Baxter was gone, it just hit me right in the stomach. Like all who knew him, I could see his incredible potential and the ways in which he would be using his gifts and talents to do good work in this world. As a mom, I most identify with Shannon and the huge hole that was blasted into her heart with this loss. He was a precious young man - clearly cherished and supported by his loving family. We were all better for having known him and he will be missed!
I had the privilege of being the principal at Kalles Junior High where Baxter attended school. What an awesome young man! When I think of Baxter, I think of a gentleman. I think of the incredible gifts and talents he possessed, yet the reserved and more quiet approach to life he chose. I think of a servant who was committed to making himself better. He also worked to make the world around him a more understanding and calm place. Baxter had a peaceful soul that always seemed to be searching and asking, and I am an improved person because our paths crossed. He was beyond his years in terms of how he put others first, how he focused on the positive, and how he worked to make a difference. Kalles (and the world) was a finer place because of his presence. I will miss you, Baxter!
Baxter was truly someone that inspired me each and every day. He was one of the most hard-working and driven employees I have ever had the pleasure of working besides. I had the honor of being his manager for over a year now, since October 2017. It is very rare to see someone so young, care so much about their impact. He always would volunteer to help out any other restaurant that needed help and he impacted each team he was a part of. He became quite well-known at Taco Time for his willingness and selflessness to support everyone he could. I cannot imagine how less of a world we all live in without him in it. I will never forget him.
