April Gay Baty—mother, wife, daughter, grandmother, aunt, sister, niece and friend—died on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. April was born July 30, 1957 in Crowell, Texas.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 28th 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home, Crowell, TX. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 28th 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Crowell, TX. Burial will follow at the Crowell Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family of April Baty has requested that donations be made to the APRIL BATY SCHOLARSHIP. Money or checks can be dropped off at the Crowell State Bank in Crowell, TX or mailed to April Baty Scholarship Fund, C/O Crowell State Bank, PO Box 848, Crowell, TX 79227. Online donations can be sent through Venmo to @aprilbatyscholarship

April was a passionate educator, advocate for students, local blood drive organizer, Foard County stock show superintendent, cheer sponsor, member of the Crowell Rotary Club, 4-H volunteer and more. The good that April brought to her community of Crowell is immeasurable; however, if you talk to some of the students she impacted over the years you will hear stories of how she changed lives and provided encouragement, life direction, and leadership to these students. To list April's passions is an enormous task because she had so many, but at the top of her list would have to be her grandkids. There is nothing she wouldn't do for them and not much she hasn't done for them. April was affectionately known as Apey by her grandchildren, Hadyn and Cash, but also to many others that knew and loved her. April also loved reading, cooking, and enjoying time with family and the people she loved, and she was a goer and doer. She was always on the move to attend someone's event, game, competition, or whatever was happening at the moment. She was always present! April graduated from Crowell High School in 1975. She attended Texas Tech University and graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics with a teaching certification in Home Economics, Kindergarten Elementary, Early Childhood, Special Education and Mid-Management. She started her career in education in Petersburg, Texas as an early childhood education teacher. After one year she moved into serving as a County Extension Agent in Knox and Stephens Counties for eight years before returning to her true passion of education. She joined Crowell ISD in 1988 and retired in 2015. During her tenure in Crowell she taught Elementary and High School Special Education and served as High School and Elementary Counselor and High School Principal. While April was teaching in Crowell she earned her Master's Degree in Administration from Midwestern State University. She later earned her second Master's degree in counseling from Midwestern State University.

April is survived by her husband, Steve Baty, of Crowell, Texas; daughter Kary Brookman and husband Seth of Hollis, Oklahoma; grandchildren Hadyn and Cash Brookman; parents Donald Werley of Crowell and June Neason of Waco; sister Connie Glasscock and husband Rocky of Archer City, Texas; brother Ray Werley and spouse Nicole Curtis of Dallas, Texas; and nieces Kayla Stypula and husband Matt of Johnstown, Ohio and Destiny Blackstar of Minco, Oklahoma. April is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, great nieces, and a great nephew.

April and Steve are members of Gilliland Baptist Church.

April's love and compassion for people will be missed but will live on in the lives of all the people she has touched.