Frank B. Baggett

Graveside services for Frank B. Baggett, 81 of Kilgore will be held Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Kilgore Cemetery with Tim Bryan officiating. Mr. Baggett passed away on Sunday, September 6, 2020 at his residence.

Mr. Baggett was born September 8, 1938, in Olney, Illinois to the late Frank M. Baggett and Bernice Williams. The Baggett family was in Illinois working on a pipeline, but hailed from Kinder, La. The Baggetts moved to Texas in the 1940’s to work in the East Texas oilfield. Mr. Baggett was the oldest of four sons who were raised in the Assembly of God Church and attended Danville Elementary and later Kilgore High School. After leaving Kilgore High School, Mr. Baggett enlisted in the United States Navy in 1956 and served aboard the U.S.S Pickaway APA 222 where he obtained the rank of Machinist Mate 1st Class. He was discharged from active service in 1960 but remained in the reserves until 1964. In 1959, Mr. Baggett met his wife Gloria Wix and in 1961, they eloped, and were married by the Justice of the Peace in Ore City, Texas. In 1963 Mr. and Mrs. Baggett had their only child Frank Baggett Jr.

Mr. Baggett attended Kilgore Junior College from 1966-68, and Stephen F. Austin State University 1960-70 where he attained a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science and was hired by Kilgore High School to teach in 1970. Later Mr. Baggett attended Texas A&M East Texas State at Commerce where he received a master’s degree in Vocational Education. He worked for Kilgore ISD for forty-two years where he taught students in vocational education to help them achieve their goal in obtaining work skills they would use through their lifetime. While with KISD, he also served as Director of Career and Technical for 10 years. Education. After retirement for KISD, he enjoyed hanging out with his son at Pro-Tek Guns where he could be found visiting with customers and regaling them with grand stories of all sorts. During his lifetime, he was involved in the community by serving on the Gregg County Selective Service Board for twenty years. He also served as Election Judge for 16 years for Precinct 4 in Gregg County. He was awarded recognition for twenty years of service to the educational organizations I.C.T. and VICA in 1992. In 2000, he received the Russell C. Hill Award for support of the Kilgore FFA. He enjoyed his family, grandchildren, ex-students, Taz his cat, and reading.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 59 years, Gloria Baggett of Kilgore; son, Frank Baggett Jr. and wife Jenny; grandchildren Jalissa Smith and husband Ryan of Princeton, Tx., Jenae’ Baggett and friend Jesus Gonzalez of Kilgore; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.