Mr. Charles K. Baxter, 61, died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, at River Region Medical Center.

Mr. Baxter was born in Corsicana, Texas, and reared in Kerens, Texas, where he graduated from Kerens High School and also from Texas A&M University. He had formerly resided in Fort Worth and Asheville, N.C., before moving to Vicksburg 29 years ago. He retired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2007 as a biologist.

His awards received include: the Regional Director’s Honor Award in 1992, 1999 and 2006 and the Regional Director’s Stewardship Award in 2007. His awards from the U.S. Department of the Interior include the Meritorious Service Award in 2002 and the Distinguished Service Award in 2007.

The National/International Conservation Organization awards include: Ducks Unlimited-1996 Federal Wetland Conservationist of the Year Award, the Wildlife Management Institute-2001 President’s Award, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan Committee-2001 International Canvasback Award, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies-2007 Special Recognition Award, the C.W. Watson Award — the highest honor accorded a wildlife professional in the Southeast U.S. presented jointly by the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, SE Chapter of The Wildlife Society and Southern Division American Fisheries Society.

His professional experience was a wildlife biologist, Division of Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort Worth, Texas — July 1971 to July 1977.

He was an avid outdoorsman and a member of Immanuel Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn P. Baxter of Vicksburg; a son, Charles Randall Baxter of Albuquerque, N.M.; a sister, Sandra Holland of Athens, Texas; and two brothers, Keith Baxter of Flower Mound, Texas, and David Curtis of Bellville, Texas.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, at Immanuel Baptist Church. Interment will be Wednesday at Long Prairie Cemetery in Kerens. Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at Glenwood Funeral Home and at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Immanuel Baptist Church. The Rev. Billy Brumfield will officiate.

Pallbearers will be Dale Yocum, Russ Watson, Ken Reinecke, Seth Mott, Robert Barkley and Marvin Moriarty.

Honorary pallbearers will be the men of Immanuel Baptist Church.

Memorials are requested to the Baptist Children’s Village, P.O. Box 27, Clinton, MS 39060.