Kim Baxter

Cheryl “Kim” Baxter, 71, of Little Rock, passed away October 28, 2026, surrounded by her family.

“Kim” was born July 16, 1955, in Little Rock, Arkansas, and is survived by her sister, Becky Porter, her niece, Ashley Nguyen (Anthony), a grandniece, Isabella Nguyen, and a grand-nephew, Christian Nguyen. She was preceded in death by her father,  E. Russell Baxter, and her mother, Eileen Baxter.

Kim was a lifelong Catholic and attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary School and Mt. St. Mary Academy High School. Kim graduated from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

After graduation from college in 1977, she followed her dream to work in Washington, D.C., and began her career on Capitol Hill, working 10 years as a legislative assistant/correspondent for several congressmen. She came home to Arkansas and worked for the Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research, Arkansas Legislative Council as a Senior Legislative Analyst, and served on many legislative committees and task forces, including the House and Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committees, and the Medicaid and Hospital Study Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council.

After retiring, she enjoyed volunteering at the Clinton Presidential Library, the Little Rock Zoo, and Camp Aldersgate's Senior Program, even receiving the Volunteer of the Year award.

Kim loved her job, the Razorbacks, her father’s cats, Coca-Cola, bingo, vacations in Port Isabel, TX., but most of all, she loved her niece, grand-niece, and grand-nephew.

Visitation will be 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 3, at Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, Arkansas, followed by a Rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral will be Wednesday, November 4, at 10 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 4000 N. Rodney Parham, Little Rock, Arkansas.