Shirley Rose Baker Delk

Shirley was born on April 7, 1943 in Gloucester, Gloucestershire England, and died on January 24, 2021. She grew up in Hucclecote and attended Larkhay Road Primary School and Longlevens Senior School. She came to the states in her early twenties with her first husband, Don, and two children. She was later remarried to Steve Baker, and had two more children. Later in life, after being single for many years, she met Ben. They married and shared many years of happiness before her untimely death. Shirley resided in Bossier City her entire adult life except for a small stay in Little Rock, AR due to a military transfer.

She was fun loving, beautiful, funny, blunt, caring for others, a wonderful mother, wife and friend. Shirley wasn’t shy and often was the comedic entertainment or life of the party. She never met a stranger and would often talk to anyone in a store or restaurant and before you knew it, she knew their life story and had made another friend. First and foremost, Shirley loved her family with all her heart. It was most important to her to stay in touch and often visit with her family in England. She greatly loved all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and loved to keep photos in her phone to brag about them, attend all the baby showers, birthday parties, and any ceremonies. Shirley also grew up during the depression era and appreciated things, especially a bargain, a thrift find or a good deal. Her most cherished days were shopping with her best friend, Gina, having a meal and finding a great sale.

Shirley was a homemaker when her children were young and in school. Later she held many jobs outside the home including Dillard’s, Home Interiors Representative, Bewley’s Furniture, Sealy Real Estate, and before her retirement she was the office manager for a local psychologist for over 10 years. Shirley was an excellent seamstress and loved to sew clothes for herself, her children, grandchildren and items for her home. She sewed, embroidered, smocked and cross-stitched many beautiful keepsakes. Shirley was a social butterfly and through the years was involved with the Transatlantic Brides Association and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. She was a member of First Baptist Bossier for over 40 years and was very active in the choir, the youth ministry and the singles department.

Over the years, Shirley has made many friends and loved ones who will miss her dearly. She loved the Lord and because we believe in Him, we know that she is in heaven dancing and partying and most likely decorating her mansion while waiting for us to get there with her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Alfred Edward and Joyce Bale and her oldest son, Dean Baker.

She is survived by her loving husband, Ben Delk; her children, Kim Kovac, Andrea Johnson and husband Ken, Stevens Baker and partner Adrian Bakker; stepsons, Ben David Delk, III and wife Karen and David Delk and wife Brenda; sister, Elaine Donaldson and husband Paul; brothers, Maurice Bale and wife Carol and Graham Bale and wife Veronica. She is also survived by 22 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, with 2 more on the way.

The family would like to thank Dr. Prakash Manapragada, 8th Tower nurses and aids at Willis Knighton Pierremont as well as the nurses, aids and staff M.D. at The Carpenter House for the precious care they gave to our mother.