Mary Ellen Baumgartner, 85, of Hillsboro died April 27, 2025, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mrs. Baumgartner was a retired in-home babysitter and cared for many family members during times of need. She was an active member of Hillsboro United Methodist Church. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi (Gama Beta Master Chapter), was a MaryKay consultant and served on the board and volunteered at Hillsboro Food Pantry. She and her husband worked for Sunnyhill, Inc. in Cedar Hill where her husband drove a transport and she assisted with special needs adults on multi-state excursions. She enjoyed attending sporting events, dance and piano recitals and theater performances of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and spending time with family. She will be remembered for her selflessness, contagious spirit, wit and beauty. Born Nov. 9, 1939, in St. Louis, she was the daughter of the late Thurman and Ruth (Sherman) Reames.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Jules “Nick” Baumgartner.
She is survived by four children: Kathy (Terry) Pigg of Blackwell, Cyndy (Jimmy Miller) Bradley of De Soto, Tina (Chris) Thebeau of Hillsboro and Mike (Sheila) Baumgartner of Hillsboro; 14 grandchildren: Jaime (Dave) Lammert, Preston (Mickey) Pigg, Dustin (Angela) Farrar, Lindsay (TJ Passet) Pigg, Brad (Christina) Gravagna, Jeff Gravagna, Stephanie (TJ) Drummond, David (Amy) Gravagna, Corinne (Mike) Tullis, Christina (Todd) Oberlin, Jacob Thebeau, Joe (Leila Awad) Baumgartner, Nick Baumgartner and Christopher Baumgartner; 24 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; three siblings: Rena (the late Richard) Ballard, Bonnie (Brad) Billings and Susan (the late Bill) Saifer; a close friend: Clark Shay; and many other family members and friends.
She also was preceded in death by four siblings: Patty (the late Earl) Hillmeyer, Bob (June) Reames, Ruth (the late Dave) Tweedy and Woody Reames.
A celebration of life is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. until a memorial service at noon, Sunday, June 8, at Hillsboro United Methodist Church, 4810 Hwy. B, in Hillsboro. Memorials may be made to the HUMC Christmas Food and Gift Basket Fund or the Hillsboro Food Pantry. Arrangements are under the direction of Chapel Hill Mortuary Robert Brown Chapel in Hillsboro.