The late Tanya Baugus and her husband R.V. in happier times a month ago at Villa Real.
Tanya Baugus, 48, passed away Friday, Jan. 30, leaving a big hole behind at both Coaches Outreach, Dallas, where she was the “heart” of the Christian program as event coordinator and office manager and in the heart of her husband, R.V. Baugus Jr., a longtime journalist in the venue world.
Both are well-known in the sports and entertainment industry. Tanya often accompanied her husband to International Association of Venue Managers events. R.V. was editor of IAVM Facility Manager for years and, most recently, has been staff correspondent for Venues Today.
Tanya had been admitted to the hospital for a routine angiogram and went into cardiac arrest due to a massive blockage in her heart.
Her death was totally unexpected by everyone but, perhaps, Tanya. Both her associates at Coaches Outreach and her husband have noted that she seemed to know something might happen and tried to prepare her loved ones. None could be prepared, however. R.V., always a writer, eloquently and factually shared some of the heartache. Tragedy in a writer’s own words:
“I think Tanya knew how bad her heart was hurting. She told our pastor's wife and my aunt last week that ‘If something happens to me please take care of R.V.' She sent a text to four of her high school girlfriends that they forwarded to me where she said that she thought it would be fine but if something happened how much she loved them and that they were sisters to her heart. She told her four co-workers at Coaches Outreach individually last Thursday that she loved them and loved working with them. At her work banquet eight nights ago she came by during the song leader's music to tell me to remember for him to sing a particular song at her funeral. I think Tanya was really preparing for not coming out of the surgery.
“What makes me cry is after we got home from an early dinner last Thursday with my aunt, I was in bed reading the newspaper about 8:15. Tanya was in the living room and asked, "Will you do one favor for me before you go to bed?"
"I told her I was reading the paper and it was early and I wasn't about to go to bed, so of course I would do a favor. She walked into the room with her cell phone, and asked, 'Will you dance with me?' I said yes and rose from the bed and she met me. She began playing Toby Keith's "You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like That" that was so, so, so beautiful. We embraced and she tightly grabbed my shirt almost to not let go of me. When the song ended she kissed me on the lips, kissed my forehead and said she loved me. I told her that I also loved her.
“I really believe she wanted a last dance with her husband if she did not survive. This will also be a song played at her service and one I will listen to every day as I cherish this incredible woman's memory.”
Her co-workers issued a tribute to Tanya, calling her the “heart” of Coaches Outreach and reiterating that she seemed to know it was time.
The funeral service is set for Saturday (Feb. 7) at 2 pm at Oak View Baptist Church in Irving, Texas. Services are being coordinated by Brown’s Funeral Home.
Coaches Outreach, for which she worked for eight years, will be establishing an annual scholarship in honor of Tanya, and a tribute from the Dallas Mavericks honoring one of their loyal, passionate, season ticket holders will be presented during an upcoming game.
Besides her husband, Tanya Renee Baugus is survived by two brothers, one sister, her Aunt Carrie “Honey” Marshall, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
RV can be reached at rv@venuestoday.com.