Cheryl Kay (Clayton) Baldwin – March 4, 1950 – September 25, 2026

Cheryl Kay (Clayton) Baldwin, 76, of Quinter, Kansas, passed away on September 25, 2026. Cheryl was born in Las Animas, Colorado, on March 4, 1950, to Lawrence and Etta (Wertz) Clayton.

Cheryl married Jesse Lee Baldwin on November 8, 1967, in McClave, Colorado.  During their marriage, they had many adventures, starting with Lee’s army recruitment and transfer to Kentucky, where they lived for 8 months. While Lee served in Vietnam, Cheryl returned home to Colorado. They also lived in Garden City, Kansas, before moving to Quinter from 1978 until 1989.

Cheryl worked in the medical field for many years as she advanced in each area.  Her medical career started as the first female volunteer EMT with the Quinter Ambulance Service. She then earned her LPN degree from Colby Community College in 1986 and worked at the Quinter Clinic and Gove County Medical Center. Cheryl and her family relocated to Spearville, Kansas, in 1989. She received her RN degree from Dodge City Community College in 1995 while working at a medical clinic.

After a move to Garden City, Cheryl worked at the IBP beef packing plant as an industrial nurse. Cheryl continued her work as a nurse with Kansas Children’s Service League (KCSL) where she worked until retiring in 2012.

Cheryl enjoyed attending medical conferences with KCSL. She loved to volunteer and serve the underprivileged in the community, often delivering blankets and toys at Christmas, buying homemade food and jewelry, and donating household items and clothes to anyone in need. She loved to travel, enjoying trips to the mountains, the southwestern US, and Mexico. Cheryl and Lee enjoyed riding motorcycles as part of the Northwest Kansas Drifters motorcycle club.

Upon their retirement, Cheryl and Lee eventually settled once again in Quinter, where she enjoyed watching her grandchildren at their school events and spending time with her great-grandchildren.

Cheryl is survived by her husband Lee, daughters Tara (Rodd) Thornburg of Quinter and Tana (Bryon) Frost of Topeka. She is also survived by grandchildren Taya (Broc) Kuntz, Jesse (Casey) Thornburg, Laina, Vailie, and Beau Frost; great-grandchildren Branch Thornburg and Keegan and Kyndal Kuntz. Cheryl is survived by sisters Vicki Burgess of Hasty, Colorado, and Valeri (Tim) Noecker of Quinter.

Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Etta Clayton, sister Loretta Johnson, brothers-in-law Wayne Burgess and Roy Johnson, nephew Clayton Burgess, and niece Brianna Noecker.

The memorial service will be held Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Schmitt Funeral Home in Quinter, Kansas, with Brad Wertz officiating. Interment, and committal service, will follow at 4:00 p.m. (MT) at The Home Cemetery in McClave, Colorado.

Memorial contributions, if desired, are suggested to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Cheryl was a faithful supporter of this group for over 5 years and believed in their Christian ministry. Memorials may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, America, KS 67752.