Thursday, March 28, 2013

Marian Baker



   Marian  E. Baker,  age 99,  passed away on March  24,  2013, after a long illness. She  had  been a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic  Parish for 77 years .She moved to Poteau , OK from Kansas City in 1935 with her late  husband Dr. Wilbur K. Baker DDS, and their one year old son, Kermit .  She has 5 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
     There were only 7 Catholics in the parish when Marian arrived in Poteau  She quickly started wearing many  “hats”. She became the parish organist—playing for all Sunday masses, weddings, and funerals etc.  In addition,  Marian became the choir director and also for many years organized a children’s choir.  In addition, she became the bookkeeper  and treasurer for 3 parishes ,Poteau, Stigler ,and Spiro. This also involved counting all collections, making bank deposits, and paying all bills. She did this by hand for 50 years and then learned to use a computer.   Over the years Marian helped  purchase , prepare, and  serve the food for all the funeral dinners.
During her 77 years of parish service, Marian had  worked with 18 different Priests who were fresh out of the seminary. She helped them become seasoned pastors.   Marian was very sociable and had never met a stranger. She had the ability to make all visitors and parishioners feel welcome and comfortable. She had  been called the “matriarch” of the parish.    At age 86 Marian survived colon cancer which involved surgery and chemotherapy. She slowed down and by age 92 stopped doing bookkeeping –treasurer for 3 parishes.
In 2008 Marian Baker was honored by being named  as the “ Woman of Achievement” 
in  the entire  Diocese  of  Tulsa      
     She  is survived  by  a son, Dr. W. Kermit Baker II MD of Fayetteville AR,    a niece,  Barbara Lasta  of K.C.  MO. a nephew, William Hansen  of  K.C. KS.,  5 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.
        Services ---a funeral Mass will be held at  Immaculate Conception Church  in Poteau, Okla.  at  11  AM  on Monday, April 1,  2013. 
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In  lieu  of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to a memorial at the Immaculate  Conception Church,  PO Box 237, Poteau, OK  74953.
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