Sherry Kay (Burns) Baumgardner

Funeral service for Sherry Kay (Burns) Baumgardner will be on Thursday, December 29, 2016, at 2 pm at The First United Methodist Church of Natchitoches Main Sanctuary with Rev. Linda Clark officiating. Burial will follow at Memory Lawn Cemetery of Natchitoches. The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 29, 2016, from 12 noon until 1:30 pm at The Crossroads Sanctuary located within the First United Methodist Church of Natchitoches. Sherry, 76 years of age and a resident of Natchitoches, passed away on December 26, 2016, at her residence with her family by her side. She was born in Lamar, Colorado on May 11, 1940, to Walter and Essie Burns. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Ray Baumgardner; and her second husband, Gale Burk. In 1965, the family moved to Natchitoches as Dr. Ray began teaching Biology at NSU. Shortly thereafter, Sherry obtained a Library Science Degree followed later by her Masters in Library Science from NSU. She was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and librarian. She was active in PEO, the Women's Circle Group at FUMC of Natchitoches, and her book club. She is survived by her daughters, Andrea Baumgardner Valentine and her husband Rhonny, of Mansfield and Stacy L. Baumgardner of The Colony, Texas; two grandchildren, Drew and Leslie Valentine; a niece, Jeri Allessi of Fredonia, NY and a nephew, Curt Reyher of Mesa, AZ; and Gale's children Stephanie Davis and her husband, Brian of Chandler, AZ, Kristin Brown of Highlands Ranch, CO; and granddaughters, Ashlyn Davis and Madison Brown. Those honored to serve as pallbearers include Drew Valentine, Roger Williams, Parker Leeth, Wayne Baumgardner, Wayne Ragan, and Kelly Baumgardner. In lieu of floral contributions donations may be made to Empower Nepali Girls through the First United Methodist Church of Natchitoches and to the Dr. Ray and Sherry Baumgardner Scholarship Fund through Northwestern State University or to a charity of your choice.