Larry L. Baggett

Larry L. Baggett, age 88, died on Easter Sunday morning, April 12, 2020, at Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville. He was born on September 25, 1931, in Muscogee, Oklahoma, to John B. Baggett and Edith Wood Baggett.

A graduate of Fayetteville High School, he earned degrees in Business and Accounting from the University of Arkansas. He was a U. S. Navy veteran during the Korean War, with service from 1951 to 1954, and he later served in the Army National Guard of Arkansas. A longtime entrepreneur and businessman, he owned and operated numerous businesses in Northwest Arkansas, including convenience stores, car washes, and a motorcycle dealership. One of the most notable was the Fayetteville Lumber Company, which was located just off the corner of Dickson and School Streets. The Baggetts were well known as big-game hunters, and the lumber company is still remembered for their window display of the family's large hunting trophies.

Larry followed in his grandfather's footsteps by serving as a director on bank boards. He served for several years on the board of First National Bank, with its main location being on the Fayetteville square. He resigned from that position to participate, along with John Lewis and others, in the charter and establishment of the Bank of Fayetteville in 1987. He then served for 24 years on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Fayetteville, during which time he also served on the Loan Committee and as Chairman of the Trust Committee. He retired from his position on that board in September, 2012.

Larry was honored to serve on the Board of Directors of Ozarks Electric Cooperative from July, 1973 until the time of his death. At Ozarks Electric, he was Chairman of the Board in 1978, 1981-1982, 1996-1997, and 2006-2007. He was very proud to be a vital part of the organization that provided electricity to rural areas of Northwest Arkansas, and parts of Oklahoma. In recent years, he was also involved in the planning, establishment, and implementation of OzarksGo, a telecommunications subsidiary of Ozarks Electric. Larry also served on the Board of Directors of Arkansas Electrics Cooperatives, Inc., from June 1983 until his death. From 1992 to 1998, he was Ozarks Electric's representative on the board of ERMCO (Electrical Research and Manufacturing Cooperative), a producer of transformers and transformer components.

For the past 33 years, Larry and his wife, Sharon, have attended Fayetteville First Assembly of God Church, where they served as coordinators of the Senior Adults Ministry for much of that time. Larry enjoyed golf, hiking, and fishing in Alaska. He loved hunting with other family members on their ranch in southwest Texas. The highlights of his earlier years were hunting with his dad, his brother, and his uncle, Dr. Jeff Baggett.

Larry is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, Sharon Duncan Baggett; a daughter, Mitzi Pauken of Fayetteville; three sons, Scott Baggett of Fort Collins, Colorado, Dr. John Kelly of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Karry Baggett (Anna) of Fayetteville; and ten grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, John B. Baggett, Jr.

A private graveside service will be held at Prairie Grove Cemetery. A memorial service to celebrate Larry's remarkable life will be held as soon as possible, and details will be provided at that time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Fayetteville First Assembly of God Church, P.O. Box 1783, Fayetteville, Ark. 72702.

Published April 15, 2020

OBITUARY SUBMITTED BY:

Nelson-Berna Funeral Home and Crematory

4520 North Crossover Road, P.O. Box 8982, Fayetteville, AR

Phone: 479-521-5000

http://www.nelsonberna.com