Edith Estelle Baker

Graveside service for Edith Estelle Baker, 91, of Kempner, formerly of Chico, was July 20 at Chico Cemetery with Larry Whitaker officiating.

Baker died Tuesday, July 17, 2012, in Harker Heights.

Born March 7, 1921, in Bowie to Myrtle Ann (Turnbow) and Johnny Ray Stephens, she married Louie Elston Baker Aug. 31, 1941. She was a Chico ISD volunteer and held local, district, state and national offices of the Parent Teachers Association. Baker was solicited by President Jimmy Carter to be a voice for his progressive National Education Bill.

She was involved in the Texas Historical Commission, Federated Women’s Study Club, Texas Commission on the Arts and was a Red Hatter (Diva Dames). She hosted the Chico High School Senior Girls Luncheon from 1975 to 2007 and facilitated the organization and development of the first Chico community library with Lavonia Hawkins.

Baker received the Angel Among Us Award in 2005 and the City of Chico Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Fort Worth. Baker organized large social gatherings with family and friends, read, attended school events, scrapbooked, sewed, wrote, gardened, collected antiques, cooked and played canasta, 42 and Scrabble.

She was preceded in death by her husband; oldest son Randall Glenn; a daughter-in-law; a sister; and a great-grandchild.

Baker is survived by children Elston Dale, Tommy Durrett, Beverly Jane and StanLee Ray; 15 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, North Central Texas Chapter, 2630 West Freeway Suite 100, Fort Worth, TX 76102.