Patrick John Baxter

Patrick "Pat" John Baxter was born June 1, 1968 in American Fork, Utah to Dean Lowell and Olive Joyce Stapleton Baxter (Tislow).  Pat came along as a great surprise later in his parents' lives.  He is the youngest of 4 children. When Pat was 3 months old his father passed away unexpectedly. For the next several years he enjoyed life with his mother and older brothers.  At the age of 5, he was blessed to have another wonderful father enter his life when his mother married Edmond Leroy Tislow.

Together, Ed and Olive raised Pat in Nephi, Utah. Ed was a very instrumental person in Pat and Olive's life.  Along with Pat's mother, Olive, Ed taught him to love the outdoors with activities like hunting, fishing, camping, chopping and gathering firewood, and most of all the love and joy of spending time with family.  Ed was a great role model and mentor to Pat.  Ed showed Pat the true meaning of a love both as a father to Pat and a husband to his mother, Olive.  He was raised an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

He graduated from Juab High School in 1986. He worked in law enforcement for over 25 years.  He began his career working at Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison. As his career advanced, he later moved onto working at the Juab County Sheriff Office, then Nephi City Police Department.  He retired from law enforcement in 2012. Over his career he obtained many certifications and attended courses, and conferences to further his knowledge, skills and training. He enjoyed serving the public and the residents of Juab County both during his law enforcement career but also by serving as a member of the Juab County Search and Rescue. He received his Master Diver Certification allowing him to help with underwater recoveries. Pat was trained in mountain rescue with skills like repelling. He also enjoyed being part of the JCAT, SWAT, and US Marshalls teams. During his career he had many opportunities to provide security at concerts, on movie sets, the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, etc.  He met many musicians and actors/actresses over the years.  Pat has always been very proud of his service in law enforcement.  During his law enforcement career his love for music continued to grow.

Pat married the love of his life, Rachelle, on April 20,2018 and gained an amazing daughter, Bailee, he said "filled a void he never knew he was missing". Pat will forever be their knight in shining armor, protector, and hero. Pat enjoyed going for rides with Rachelle and Bailee in the old truck or Razor whether it was for hunting, fishing or any old adventure he had up his sleeve, always with music blasting. He was always finding songs that he felt were fit for them. Many songs which include themes for his perfect proposal, their wedding song, or one portraying his love and feelings for his daughter, Bailee.  He could always find the perfect one.

Pat has enjoyed an active life hunting, fishing, camping, training his hunting dogs (Koda and Miles), coaching his daughter Bailee's softball teams, and spending time with his family, especially in the outdoors. Pat is a natural born teacher with a love for his daughter. Most of all he enjoys watching and cheering for Bailee at her softball games, and being her catcher when she goes to pitching lessons. He is her biggest fan. Another passion for Pat was coaching and mentoring the softball girls as they learned and excelled. He loved the softball girls as if they were his own. Pat made a lasting impact on Bailee as well as many other people's lives over the years. Softball was one of Pat's many joys in life and he loved nothing more than to share it with others.

Pat became sick with what started as a sinus infection and turned into an upper respiratory infection in mid-June 2021.  Due to his heart attack 1 year prior, the doctor felt he needed to be admitted to the hospital and close to a cardiologist and pulmonologist; strictly a safety precaution. He was sent by ambulance to UVRMC in Provo, UT.  Little did anyone know this would be the start of a very long road and would lead to a fight for his life.

They kept up hope the testing and biopsies would shed some light on what was causing his illness and putting him into respiratory failure. Pat was getting tired and the doctors discussed with Pat and his wife, Rachelle, the need to give him and his body a rest and to intubate him and put him on a ventilator.  Pat overcame a lot of suffering, and many roadblocks of complications along the way.

He was hospitalized for a majority of the past 6 months. He worked so hard and was able to come home for a few weeks and attend Bailee's last softball tournament for the year. Pat was so happy and excited, especially watching her pitch against the "big" girls (16-18u), and seeing her strike them out.

Pat fought very hard to stay, but on the evening of Tuesday, December 14, 2021, he passed from this earthly life returning home to his parents and Heavenly Father. He will be greatly missed.  He is survived by his wife, Rachelle, daughter, Bailee of Levan.  His brother, Cameron, mother and father-in-law, Gary & Eudene Anderson, brothers-in-law, Doug (Shantel) Anderson, Scott (Daleen) Anderson, Jimmy (Heather) Anderson, Brandon (Dianna) Anderson, sister-in-law, Nicole (Milford) Hall, many nieces and nephews, his beloved softball teams, and countless friends.

Preceded in death by his parents, Dean, Olive, Ed, brother, Rex, sister, Donna, and step brother, Stanley Multine.

Funeral services will be held Monday, December 20, 2021 at 11:00 am at the Levan Church, 25 North 100 East, with a viewing one hour prior and Sunday night 6:00 - 8:00 at the Anderson Funeral Home, 94 West 300 North, Nephi, Utah.