NEWTON…Meredith Baugh, a resident of Newton, died Friday morning, November 21, 2025, at her home. She was 51.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, November 29, 2025, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with Minister Stuart Tullis officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 1:00 P.M. Saturday at the funeral home. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.
Meredith was born on March 16, 1974, in Davenport, Iowa. Over the years, she made homes in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Crestview, Florida, before settling in Newton in 2009. Each place she lived left its mark on her, shaping the caring, spirited woman she became.
Education was important to Meredith, and she worked hard to achieve her goals. She graduated from Okaloosa Walton College, Okaloosa Applied College, and Wallace Community College. With her dedication and compassion, she became a Licensed Practical Nurse, serving patients at Okaloosa Medical Center in Crestview, Florida. Nursing wasn’t just a job to her—it was a calling. She had a gift for making people feel seen, heard, and cared for, and she carried that same kindness into every part of her life.
Outside of work, Meredith had a playful and creative spirit. She loved shopping trips, whether it was finding something special for herself or picking out little surprises for her loved ones. She could spend hours binge-watching her favorite television shows, laughing, crying, and getting caught up in the stories. She had a love for the arts, especially painting, where she could express herself with color and imagination. Dolphins always brought her joy, and the beach was her happy place—she loved the sound of the waves, the feel of the sand, and the peace that came with being near the ocean. She also had a soft spot for Donald Duck, whose silly antics never failed to make her smile.
But above all, Meredith’s greatest joy in life was her family. Her children and grandchildren were her heart and soul. She loved them deeply and unconditionally and nothing made her happier than spending time with them. Whether it was sharing a meal, celebrating milestones, or simply sitting together and talking, those moments were the ones she cherished most. Her love for her family was the kind that could be felt in every hug, every word of encouragement, and every sacrifice she made.
Meredith’s life was full of love, laughter, and care. She touched the lives of everyone around her with her warmth and generosity, and her memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew her best.
Meredith was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Russell Hoban and Mildred Koenig Hoban and her paternal grandparents, William Baugh and Naomi Dillon Baugh.
Surviving relatives include her children, Tiffany Barrett (Brandon), Bonaire, Georgia, Joseph Brewer, Newton, and Alexandria McKee, North Carolina; her parents, Donald and Lorna Hoban Baugh, Newton; sister, Sherri Watson (Wesley), Ewell; brother, Darrin Emerick, California; four grandchildren, Aaden, Ariyah, Renleigh, and Ireland; nephew, James Watson.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
