Ann Elizabeth (Baugh) Wilkerson passed away peacefully at her home in Edmond, Okla., on January 19, 2024, surrounded by her family.
Ann was born on May 12, 1948, in Mexico (Audrain County) to Olin and Elizabeth (Ankrom) Baugh. She grew up on her family’s farm outside Middletown with her sister and cousins, and later her nieces, as playmates and neighbors. She was a 1966 graduate of Wellsville-Middletown R-1 High School and a 1970 graduate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
On August 12, 1967, Ann married Robert Wilkerson at Hopewell Baptist Church in Wellsville. They were married for 56 happy years. They welcomed one son, Chad, and one daughter, Dana.
Ann began her teaching career at the Ritenour School District in St. Louis. After the family’s return to Montgomery County, Ann and Robert owned and operated Town and Country Market in Montgomery City and the Country Store in Middletown. In 1981, she went back to teaching at Montgomery County R-II. She taught second grade for six years before starting G.L.E.A.M., the district’s gifted program, and teaching a host of children from grades two through seven for 10 years. Ann impacted many young lives during her teaching career through her classes as well as Odyssey of the Mind, the Stock Market Team, the Academic Bowl Team, College for Kids and other various extracurricular activities.
After retiring from teaching in 1997, Ann became the vice-president for the family produce brokerage business, ABCD Sales, in Montgomery City. She and Robert spent two decades working side by side, traveling through the country, going to produce shows, attending sales meetings and making many friends along the way.
Ann was a long-time member of Hopewell Baptist Church, where she took on many roles, including pianist, GA leader, Sunday School teacher, VBS teacher, WMU member and leader and numerous other service positions. She especially loved teaching about the Fruit of the Spirit.
Ann was a strong advocate for people with mental illness. For more than a decade, Ann was on the board of the Arthur Center in Mexico, led NAMI support group meetings and started a group in Montgomery City. She was also a member of Alpha Kappa Delta, the Montgomery County Retired Teachers Association and the GFWC Women’s Club.
Mrs. Wilkerson adored her grandkids and could often be found in the audience for their games, recitals, plays and school presentations. She loved having tea parties with her daughter, granddaughters, nieces and friends. Ann also enjoyed the annual pilgrimage to Jupiter, Fla., for St. Louis Cardinals spring training games with her husband, children, grandchildren and a host of other family members and friends over the course of 20 years.
Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Olin and Elizabeth Baugh; her parents-in-law, Lee and Virginia Wilkerson; her sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ellen and Larry Dunn; her infant brother, Duane Lee Baugh; and her sister-in-law, Laura Wilkerson.
Ann is survived by her husband, Robert; her son and daughter-in-law, Chad and Beth Wilkerson; her daughter, Dana Wilkerson; four grandchildren, Maura, Claire, Nicholas and Vera Wilkerson, all of Edmond; three nieces, Kathy (Tom) Barr of West Plains; Laura Lee (Butch) Rose of Centralia; and Julie (Adam) Gatson of Vandalia; as well as their children and grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. at the Hopewell Baptist Church in Wellsville, with the Reverend Dick Hinson officiating. Interment will follow in the Fairmont Cemetery in Middletown.
A visitation will be held on Jan. 27 at the Hopewell Baptist Church from 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m. with a brief 30-minute break before the service begins at 11:30 a.m.
Memorial contributions can be sent to the Arthur Center, 340 Kelley Pkwy, Mexico, MO 65265.
