Della May (Smelser) Baker

Della Smelser Baker was born February 4, 1928, in Baird, Texas, and died June 2, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. Her parents were Pastor Nelson H. and Jewel Blanton Smelser. She attended Austin Elementary in Odessa, Texas, and graduated from Odessa High School.

She grew up with a strong Christian faith and a Methodist upbringing. Della worked for Bell Telephone Company as an operator and met D.O. Baker. After a year at McMurry College, she married Dexter Olen Baker on July 4, 1948. They both continued with the phone company until 1952, when Jeanie was born. Della became a homemaker, active in Highland Methodist Church and Home Demonstration Club.

She was certified as a water safety instructor and taught swimming at Floyd Gwin Pool for many summers. She began the first swimming classes for mothers and babies during that time. Her younger children were born in that stage of her life. Esther arrived in 1964, Wendy in 1967, and Olen Dale in 1972.

Della fought skin and breast cancer. She bravely survived many bone fractures and injuries. She always found the courage to recover and reinvent herself, becoming an advocate for Botox therapy for torticollis patients.

Della exemplified kindness, gentleness, and patience. She was a caregiver for her aging mother and for her husband, who died of Alzheimer's in 2008. Della loved to travel and the family camped in New Mexico or Colorado during the summers.

She was preceded in death by her twin sister, Stella, her sister Onita and her twin Juanita, as well as by her parents, and by her husband of 60 years, D.O. Baker. Della is survived by her children; Jeanie Kraemer and husband Daryl; Esther Davis and husband Terry; Wendy Baker; and Olen Dale Baker and wife LaDonna. She has nine grandchildren: Christina Jackson, Deven Smith and wife Janet, Dexter Smith, Dustin Dyson, Destiny Baker, Austin Davis, William Ardon Baker, and Bri Smithe. She has eleven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Grace Laman, her brother-in-law Dale Baker, and many nieces and nephews.

Della's family would like to offer sincere gratitude to Tracy Ray, Toyin, and the staff at Woodside Place Assisted Living and to Heat to Heart Hospice for all the support and care they have given her through this time.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, June 8, 2023, at Highland United Methodist Church in Odessa, Texas, with Reverend Jon Hendricks and Dr. Jimmy Braswell officiating. Graveside service will follow at Sunset Cemetery in Odessa.