Leona Baker

Leona Mae Baker, age 92, of Elsie, Michigan died Saturday, October 17, 2009 at Hospice House of Mid-Michigan, Lansing, Michigan. Visitation will be Sunday 4-8 p.m. and Monday 2-8 P.M with family present 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie chapel at 11:00 A.M. Pastor Edwin Snook will officiate and burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Elsie. There will be an Order of Eastern Star service on Monday evening at 6:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Leona was born in Elsie, Michigan on June 15, 1917, the daughter of Ralph and Ethel (Albaugh) Williams. She attended Fox Country School, graduated from Elsie High School and attended Owosso Business College. Leona worked as a bookkeeper for the A.G. Redman Company in Owosso. She would return to her parent's farm on weekends by riding the train between Owosso and Elsie, then walk from the Elsie depot to the farm. It was in 1941 she met her future husband, Robert Baker testing dairy herds as a County Extension Agent from MSU.

On May 22, 1946 she married Robert Thurman Baker in Lansing, Michigan, following his return from military service. Together they opened the first of several business enterprises which took them to Romulus, Elsie, Perry, Webberville, and back to Elsie. Leona and Robert owned and operated Baker's Foodland in Elsie for over 50 years and retired only with its closing in 1998. Robert predeceased Leona on August 20, 1998.

Leona was the great granddaughter of Andrew Williams (one of the original Elsie settlers). Leona was born and raised on the homestead that her great grandfather Andrew and her grandfather Morris Williams established.

She was a member and past Worthy Matron of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter # 69. She was also a member of the Elsie United Methodist Church.

She is survived by 3 daughters, Gwendolyn Ann and James Graham of Fenton, Michigan; Elizabeth Mae Baker of Lansing, Michigan; Roberta Lea Baker of Elsie, Michigan; 3 sons, William Robert and Barbara Baker of Elsie, Michigan; James Howard and Sara Ellen Baker of Keyser, West Virginia; John Melvin and Ena Baker of Lansing, Michigan; daughter-in-law Sylvia Baker of Haslett, Michigan; 12 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren. Several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was predeceased by her parents; husband; 2 grandsons, Mark Edward O'Donnell, Timothy Baker; son-in-law, Mark Anthony O'Donnell; 2 sons, Paul Baker, Richard Baker; and 1 sister, Dorothy Kremer.

Memorials may be made to the Order of Eastern Star Chapter #69, Elsie United Methodist Church or a charity of the donor's choice.

Read Leona Baker's Obituary and Guestbook on smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com.