Joe Baxley

Joe Baxley October 28, 1938 - October 16, 2009 Cape Canaveral, Florida Joe Baxley, 70, passed unexpectedly, quickly and peacefully on Friday evening at his home. Joe was born in Laurel Hill, FL, to Cody Baxley (a career military man - U.S. Air Force) and Lola Vay Thomas Baxley. He was the oldest in the family of 10 (six boys & four girls), and when they were growing up, they lived on farms in Alabama and Florida. As a result, Joe became very familiar with hard work early in life. Their Dad was often stationed far away from home, so the family had to be self-sufficient. Joe used to tell stories about one old cow that was particularly stubborn when he tried to round up the cows in the evenings. He also plowed and planted the fields and picked vegetables from the family's garden. Working hard was a strong characteristic that he carried into his Air Force service and working career. At age 17 Joe joined the U.S. Air Force and spent eight years in the service. He received extensive training in the operation of many airplanes and specialization in aircraft engine repair. His tours of duty included Vietnam and Japan. His knowledge of and skills in aircraft maintenance and quality assurance were valuable to the aerospace companies for which he worked for more than 30 years, such as Lear-Siegler, Hamilton-Standard, Boeing, Dynex and ASRC. His first career love was anything related to aerospace technology, and he began working at Kennedy Space Center in 1967. There have been many ups and downs in the aerospace industry, and during times of extended lay-offs in Brevard County, Joe used his gift for dealing with people and worked as a salesman at Holler Chevrolet and other dealerships in Central Florida. For a time he was also an independent auto dealer. For one year he lived in Naples, FL. A natural teacher, he taught small engines at migrant students at Immokalee Middle School in Immokalee, FL. Prior to his death, he was employed by ASRC as a Quality Safety Engineer. Joe met and married Sylvia Samuelson in California 1967 and they eventually moved to Titusville, FL. Thirteen years later, their only child, Jennifer, was born. The couple divorced in 1994. Jennifer has lived with Joe for the past six years. Joe doted on his grandson Tyler (whom he called ""Little Man""), who was born in 2004. They loved to talk about space together. Joe was an avid football and NASCAR fan. He loved the beach and saltwater and freshwater fishing. Joe is survived by his daughter Jennifer and grandson Tyler; brother Jerry M. Baxley of Dothan, AL; sisters Annis J. Kohl of Littlestown, PA and Barbara A. Allen of Eustis, FL; and many nephews and nieces who loved him very much. He is remembered fondly as a favorite brother-in-law or favorite uncle. Joe was preceeded in death by his parents, Lola Vay & Cody; brothers Johnny Baxley, James Patrick Baxley, William (Bill) F.Cody Baxley, and B. Clyde Baxley; sisters Elnor Owens and Myrtle M. Tadlock; and Lester Allen, a brother-in-law he loved as dearly as a brother. In essence, Joe was an honorable man, true and strong. If he loved you, you knew it. All of us were blessed to know him, and he will be in our hearts forever. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to East Coast Christian Center, the Central Florida Division of the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association or Hospice.