A longtime resident of Central Louisiana, Iris Colleen Woods Baker, age 87, died
Saturday, December 1, 2012 at her residence at The Medallion in Houston, Harris
County, Texas.
She was born July 15, 1925 to Berta Mae Hall and David Admiral Woods on her grandparents' farm on Bayou Boeuf near Bunkie, in Avoyelles Parish.
Mrs. Baker was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Alexandria, was a 1945 graduate of Northwestern State College in Natchitoches, and was a deputy tax assessor in the Rapides Parish Assessor's Office with Mr. Trenton L. James.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Benjamin Harrison Baker, Jr., her sister, Marilyn Rose Woods Ezernack, and her brother, Col. David Hall Woods (Ret.).
Mrs. Baker is survived by eight children, Mary David Baker and husband Wade L. Callender of Houston, Texas, Benjamin Harrison (Ben) Baker III and wife Helen of Baton Rouge, J. Robert Baker of Fairmont, West Virginia, Iris Colleen Baker Ball and husband Scott of Houston, Texas, Anne Gordon Baker Parks and husband Larry of San Jose, California, Burton Hall Baker and wife Phyllis of Kingwood, Texas, Timothy Charles Baker and wife Cindy of Huffman, Texas, and William Patrick Baker of New Orleans. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, Craig Daniel Baker, Kyle Harrison Baker, Sean Michael Baker, Rebecca Ellen Ball Ballard, Colleen Elizabeth Ball Hale, Timothy Scott Ball, David Patrick Ball, Ramey Elaine Parks, Meryl Rose Parks, Lucy Anne Parks, Daniel Joseph Baker, Grace Anne Baker, Candice Hope Baker, Paige Olivia Baker, Stephen Timothy Baker and Erin Elizabeth Baker, and six great-grandchildren, Lucy Danielle Baker, Samantha Rose Baker, Clare Anah Baker, Jacob Martin Ballard, Lucy Rebecca Ballard, and Benjamin Scott Ball.
Colleen appreciated the excellent care provided by The Medallion staff during her six and a half year sojourn in Houston. She was particularly grateful for the loving care of her dedicated care-givers Stella Price, Dottie Carroll and Claudette Heard, who were her second family. Many others also befriended and assisted her, including Danielle H. Cook, RN, of Houston Hospice, with whom she enjoyed an instant and very special bond.
Pallbearers will be her grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles David Ezernack, David J. Woods, John Gordon Baker, Jr., Dr. David G. Baker, Michael E. Bordelon, Charles O. Slay, Jr., Jackson Sleet, Walter Woods, Jr. and Jack Landis Woods.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Thursday December 6, 2012 at John Kramer & Son, Alexandria. Friends may also call from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Friday December 7, 2012, with procession and graveside services to follow in Alexandria Memorial Gardens conducted by her grandson Craig D. Baker. Arrangements are under the direction of John Kramer & Son - http://www.kramerfuneralhome.org/ or online notes to kramerfunerals@aol.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor to the Rapides Parish Library, 411 Washington Street, Alexandria, LA 71301, 318-445-6436, or in the name of Colleen W. Baker to the charity of your choice .
She was born July 15, 1925 to Berta Mae Hall and David Admiral Woods on her grandparents' farm on Bayou Boeuf near Bunkie, in Avoyelles Parish.
Mrs. Baker was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Alexandria, was a 1945 graduate of Northwestern State College in Natchitoches, and was a deputy tax assessor in the Rapides Parish Assessor's Office with Mr. Trenton L. James.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Benjamin Harrison Baker, Jr., her sister, Marilyn Rose Woods Ezernack, and her brother, Col. David Hall Woods (Ret.).
Mrs. Baker is survived by eight children, Mary David Baker and husband Wade L. Callender of Houston, Texas, Benjamin Harrison (Ben) Baker III and wife Helen of Baton Rouge, J. Robert Baker of Fairmont, West Virginia, Iris Colleen Baker Ball and husband Scott of Houston, Texas, Anne Gordon Baker Parks and husband Larry of San Jose, California, Burton Hall Baker and wife Phyllis of Kingwood, Texas, Timothy Charles Baker and wife Cindy of Huffman, Texas, and William Patrick Baker of New Orleans. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, Craig Daniel Baker, Kyle Harrison Baker, Sean Michael Baker, Rebecca Ellen Ball Ballard, Colleen Elizabeth Ball Hale, Timothy Scott Ball, David Patrick Ball, Ramey Elaine Parks, Meryl Rose Parks, Lucy Anne Parks, Daniel Joseph Baker, Grace Anne Baker, Candice Hope Baker, Paige Olivia Baker, Stephen Timothy Baker and Erin Elizabeth Baker, and six great-grandchildren, Lucy Danielle Baker, Samantha Rose Baker, Clare Anah Baker, Jacob Martin Ballard, Lucy Rebecca Ballard, and Benjamin Scott Ball.
Colleen appreciated the excellent care provided by The Medallion staff during her six and a half year sojourn in Houston. She was particularly grateful for the loving care of her dedicated care-givers Stella Price, Dottie Carroll and Claudette Heard, who were her second family. Many others also befriended and assisted her, including Danielle H. Cook, RN, of Houston Hospice, with whom she enjoyed an instant and very special bond.
Pallbearers will be her grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles David Ezernack, David J. Woods, John Gordon Baker, Jr., Dr. David G. Baker, Michael E. Bordelon, Charles O. Slay, Jr., Jackson Sleet, Walter Woods, Jr. and Jack Landis Woods.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Thursday December 6, 2012 at John Kramer & Son, Alexandria. Friends may also call from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Friday December 7, 2012, with procession and graveside services to follow in Alexandria Memorial Gardens conducted by her grandson Craig D. Baker. Arrangements are under the direction of John Kramer & Son - http://www.kramerfuneralhome.org/ or online notes to kramerfunerals@aol.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor to the Rapides Parish Library, 411 Washington Street, Alexandria, LA 71301, 318-445-6436, or in the name of Colleen W. Baker to the charity of your choice .
Published in The Town Talk on
December 4, 2012
