Ms. Elizabeth Hope Baker

Passed away on November 3, 2017 at the Capilano Care Centre in West Vancouver. Born February 25, 1925 at South Sumas BC, the youngest child of William James Morris (d.1924) and Margaret Clyde Gilmour (d.1990). Hope’s family emigrated from Scotland in June 1924. Their passenger liner was shipwrecked off Newfoundland and the family lost all of their belongings. After reaching Montreal, they boarded an immigrant train to travel across Canada and settled on the family farm at Unsworth Road in Sumas. Her father died unexpectedly six months later. When she was born, the doctor suggested that her birth would bring the family new “Hope” and so she was given the name. She attended Tecumseh and Templeton schools in East Vancouver. In 1943, she met and married Harold V. Allin (d.1992) when he was stationed at the Jericho RCAF base.

In 1954 the family moved to Kelowna. Hope’s first job as a working Mom was at the Bennett family hardware store in Kelowna. She later worked as Office Manager at the Royal Trust real estate office and enjoyed lasting friendships with the staff. Hope married Alfred Louis Baker (d.1992) in 1975. Several years were happily spent camping and travelling with Lou in their motorhome. After his death, she moved to North Vancouver to be closer to her family.

Hope’s day always began with a thorough reading of The Province newspaper. She had an active and intelligent mind and could discuss and debate any political, financial or world issue. Her family’s personal hardship and poverty during the Depression years provided her with a strong sense of right and wrong and she would stand up for anyone who she thought was unjustly treated.

Hope was predeceased by her brothers William Morris (d.2009) and George Morris (d.1986), her sister Margaret (Rita) Thomas (d.1987), nephew William (d.1959), nieces Irene (d.1976) and Linda (d.1995), son-in-law John Sims (d.2014) and Anne (Gibb) Zonailo (d.2015), her soul sister and dearest friend.

Elizabeth Hope Baker is survived by her daughters Judy (Bob) Wilson, Pat (Peter) Sampson, and Barbara Sims, son Ken Allin and daughter-in-law Robyn Allin; grandchildren David (Nova) and Dean (Kathy) Wilson, Michael and Jeffrey (Samantha) Sampson, Kirsten (Ryan) Sims McElgunn, Stephen (Chessa) Sims, Lauren (Ben) Sims Richet, Michelle and Sarah Allin; great grandchildren Maclean and Berkley Wilson; Tyler, Kendra, and Jessica Wilson; Adelaide and Seraphina Sampson; Isabel McElgunn; Ophelia and Barnaby Sims; and Isla and Sullivan Richet; nieces Bonnie, Diane, and Margie; nephews Dan and Clyde; and extended family including the Baker family that she loved very much.

A graveside service will be held for Elizabeth Hope Baker in the spring of 2018 at the Carman United Church Cemetery in Chilliwack BC.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Vancouver Coastal Health – North Shore. In Hope’s later years, they provided her with the very best of medical and personal care. We would also like to thank and acknowledge Dr. John Adair’s many years of patience, kindness and commitment to her care.

Arrangements under the direction of First Memorial Funeral Services, North Vancouver, BC.