Marjorie Russell Baker

Decatur

Marjorie Russell Baker died June 9, 2011, at her home in Decatur. She was born August 3, 1921, and except for several years in Hartselle, was a lifelong resident of Decatur.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lois and Roscoe Russell; her sister, Estelle Russell Black; and by her beloved husband of 61 years, Raymon J. Baker.

She is survived by her loving daughters, Cindy Strickland (Andy) of Birmingham and Becky Wachholz (Jeffrey) of Jacksonville, Florida.

Marjorie schooled in Decatur and graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in education and with art studies. She taught third grade at Lafayette Grammar School in Old Decatur for several years and is remembered as an outstanding teacher by many of her students currently residing in Decatur. Marjorie was a member of the Trowelers Garden Club and was a past president of the Decatur Women's Chamber of Commerce. She was very active in the Morgan County Republican Party, serving on the Executive Committee. And although she never played the game, she was a member of the Decatur Country Club Women's Golf Association which she explained as "somebody has to plan the parties while those girls are golfing." Marjorie and Raymon were founding members of the First Bible Church of Decatur and she was a lifelong student of the Bible. Marjorie had a great faith and Christian spirituality. She taught the Blanch Jones Bible Study Class and her travels included a study trip to the Holy Land. Marjorie's longtime joy was her china painting. She honed her talent and skills from age 17, with painting classes at Florence State and The University of Alabama. Along with numerous art objects, she painted more than 550 pieces of Wedgewood including several 12-piece settings. She designed, painted and fired hundreds of pieces in her own kiln. Marjorie loved to entertain in her home where her hand-painted serving pieces were decorative and functional.

The family wishes to express its special thanks for the longtime loving care by Marjorie's caregivers and by Hospice of the Valley.

There will be a visitation in her home on Saturday, June 11 from 3 to 5 p.m. with a funeral service on Sunday, June 12 at 3 p.m. at the First Bible Church of Decatur with burial in Decatur City Cemetery. Roselawn Funeral Home directing.

Pallbearers will be Mike Curl, Dr. Steve Chandler, Rick Paler, Blake McAnally, Irwin Craig and Calvin Brown.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Parker, Lee Barran, Bill Sexton, Mark Maloney, Barrett Shelton, Tom Caddell, Jimmy Adams and John R. Cook, Jr.

For friends wishing to make an honorarium, the family suggests a donation to the Trowelers Garden Club for the benefit of the Frazier Park Project in Old Decatur or the Decatur General Hospital Foundation for the benefit of the Free Clinic or Hospice of the Valley.