Lillian Lucille Baker

Ms. Lillian Lucille James Baker was born in Trinidad, Colorado to Cynthia Murtice and Noah James, shortly after her family traveled there from Mississippi in a covered wagon. Within a couple of years the family relocated near Choctaw, Oklahoma and began farming for a living.

Lilly left the farm at age 16 to finish high school in Oklahoma City. She went on to complete both cosmetology school and secretarial school.

At age 19, she married Kyle Johnson and they were blessed with a son the next year, James Kyle. She married a second time in 1947 to John Price Baker and together they embarked on a long and interesting military career, living in Hawaii, France, Korea, and many military bases across the continental United States. Her time as an Army Officer’s wife was spent on many committees, clubs and philanthropic boards to include the Gray Ladies Red Cross volunteers, toy drives and fashion galas raising money for various charitable organizations.

As her husband transitioned from an Army Officer to a civil servant, they settled in Davenport, Iowa where Lilly pursued many hobbies such as landscape painting, ceramics, crochet and knitting. She utilized skill sets she developed as an officer’s wife to continue serving her community. She held numerous positions on the Davenport Women’s Club, including the position of Vice President and several terms as President of the Club.

In the early 80s, Lilly and her husband retired to Florida, taking up the hobbies of golf and bridge, both of which she played well into her 90s. Unfortunately, her husband, whom she referred to as “her sweetheart” started showing signs of dementia in the late 90s. She cared for him in their home for over 10 years without any outside assistance.

Several years after her husband passed, Lilly moved back to Oklahoma to be near family. It was a difficult decision for her because she had developed many close friendships over 30 plus years in Florida. Even at the age of 93, she wanted her independence and soon moved to Fountain Brook Assisted Living Center where she enjoyed making new friends and participating in many fun activities. She was even named Prom Queen the first year she lived there.

After a brief period of illness, she passed away peacefully last Wednesday at the age of 96. She was preceded in death by her parents Murtice and Noah James, her brother Lee Adam James, her son Jim Baker, her grandson, Scott Baker and her husband, John Price Baker.

She is survived by granddaughter, Sheri Walton and her husband Ken, a great granddaughter, Keri Lepley and her 2 sons Kelby and Macauley; a daughter-in-law MaryAnn Baker Holt and husband Jim; sister-in-law, MaryJean Baker, a cousin Donna Peterson and many nieces, nephews and great-neices and nephews.

A Memorial Service and celebration of her life will take place May 31, 2015, 2pm, at Fountain Brook, 11510 SE 15th Street, Midwest City, OK 73130. Arrangements are through Bill Eisenhower Funeral Home, Midwest City, OK.