Happy Baggett, Fort Worth developer who used last days to help at-risk children, has died
Happy Baggett — a well-known real estate developer who devoted much time toward helping raise money for at-risk children — has died.
Mr. Baggett in recent months began publicly talking about how he had been diagnosed with terminal colon and liver cancer and had a short time left to live. He was 67.
“It is with a heavy heart to tell you Our Poppa went to heaven last night,” his daughter, Maggie Baggett Shori posted on Facebook on Wednesday morning. “We are sad that he isn’t here, but happy that he is no longer in pain.
“He peacefully went to the Lord,” she wrote. “Thank you for all your love and prayers for dad and our family.”
Funeral information wasn’t immediately available.
Mr. Baggett, who grew up in Odessa and later moved to Fort Worth, was honored last month with a North Texas Early Childhood Leadership Award for his work to raise money to help Child Care Associates improve nearly two dozen early childhood campuses and possibly build a new campus in Tarrant County.
He asked nearly everyone he knows to donate to the group’s effort. No tally of how much he helped raise was available Wednesday afternoon.
But when recently asked about his effort to raise money for the children, he smiled.
“It’s all for the babies,” he said.
Mr. Baggett’s philanthropy work drew praise from many in Fort Worth, including Mayor Betsy Price.
“This is a man who is truly living what God would want us to all do,” Price said last month. “He is giving back to this community.
“It’s an example that all of us should live by and learn from.”
Mr. Baggett was well-known for handling development deals through the years in areas stretching from the Alliance corridor in Fort Worth to Dallas. He has been particularly commended for helping spur needed development in southeast Fort Worth.
He told the Star-Telegram last month that he went to the doctor in April after his food began tasting like metal.
Tests over several weeks showed he had cancer so far advanced that any treatment might only give him a short time more to live. At the time, the doctor said he had six months to live.
He lived a few weeks longer than that diagnosis.
News of his death spread quickly on social media, with many posting messages on Mr. Baggett’s Facebook page.
Among them:
▪ “We have lost a special one in Happy Baggett,” posted Kara Waddell, president and CEO of CCA. “Grace and peace to his family and many friends.”
▪ “Happy Baggett, as you lived out the last few weeks of your life, ... you accomplished more than most people do in a lifetime,” Bellinda Myrick-Barnett posted. “Thank you. You made me a better, stronger person.”
▪ “What a loved man you are, Happy Baggett,” Ashlee Happel posted. “You are already so missed!”
▪ “A great man has started his journey to the other side. Happy Baggett your mission is complete thank you for everything you have done for the children and the city of Fort Worth,” posted Richard Vazquez.
▪ “God bless Fort Worth’s Happy Baggett,” Andrew Piel posted on Facebook. “His kindness and giving nature was an inspiration to me as he fought his last battle. I hope I can affect as much positive change in this world as he has. Godspeed, Happy.”
Mr. Baggett maintained a schedule as much as he could until his last days, even showing up for happy hours at the Grace restaurant downtown, where he was an investor.
He kept people updated on his condition through Facebook posts, apologizing on Nov. 17 that he couldn’t respond as much to posts as he had in the past because his “sight, hearing and speech is going.”
“For years, I’ve tried to be an encouragement,” he posted that day. “Now I need others to take my small space. Love you all with all my heart.
“To God be the Glory.”
