Roadside Mural Memorializes Judith Ann Baxter

© SSBR. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. A roadside mural. A wonderful legacy. (2024)

by Glenn Franco Simmons

A roadside mural against a snow-covered backdrop in Walker, Calif., caught my eye and, after some investigation, I discovered a little bit about a talented and longtime community fixture: Judith Ann Baxter.

Imagine the future generations still to be inspired through her business, The Crafty Needle & Tole, a combination of shop, teaching studio and community hub, pieced from the sparse digital breadcrumbs I have found. If that’s incorrect or if you would like to add to this story, please email me.

I photographed the mural in 2024 along a lonesome but truly picturesque two-lane stretch of US-395, where it clings fierce to the cragged Eastern Sierra Nevada’s flank, right at the sun-scorched lip of Antelope Valley’s vast, breathtaking expanse.

“Judy was born in Bridgeport, CA to Roy and Betty West on March 28, 1944,” according to a Sierra Wave obituary. “She resided in the area for most of her young adulthood before briefly moving to Carlsbad, NM. Returning to Walker in 1973, she remained a friend to many of the city’s residents.

“Judy had a great love for animals and especially horses. Judy could be seen horseback riding in the beautiful Antelope Valley and participating in local gymkhanas. As a young adult, she led horseback tours around various locations in the Sierra Nevada mountains. She also worked as a dealer at Topaz Lodge before starting her own business.”

The obituary said Crafty Needle & Tole was “a staple of the community.”

“With an artistic flair, she taught tole painting for many years before branching into a professional embroidery business,” the obituary stated, adding that Judy also attended “quilting retreats with her good friends, and making intricate quilts for her loved ones.”

“The business became a cornerstone of the community, offering supplies and classes focused on tole painting — a decorative technique for hand-painting metal surfaces with floral and folk-art designs,” Grok AI stated.  “With her innate artistic talent, Judy taught tole-painting workshops for many years, fostering a sense of creativity and camaraderie among locals.”

Judy shared her life with her husband of 45 years, Don Baxter, and was a devoted mother and grandmother. At 77, she passed away in the house where she had lived for 65 years with her loving family beside her.

Even though The Crafty Needle & Tole has since closed, her influence undoubtedly left an indelible impression on many people. If you are one, please let me know in the comments.