Thelma Mae Chick Baker

Thelma Mae Baker

Watervliet Thelma Mae Baker died at Hospice in Samaritan Hospital, Troy, NY, on October 16, 2003.

Mrs. Baker was born on May 9,1910, in Woodward, OK, the daughter of Cora Fern McNaught and John Franklin Chick, who arrived in the Oklahoma Territory in 1898 with their respective families from Iowa and Illinois. Her family moved to Enid, OK, in 1923. She became Garfield County spelling bee champion in the eighth grade, and when she graduated from Enid High School in 1928 she was named one of the five Girl and five Boy Scholars. She attended Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha and later the Enid Business College. She was a member of the Association of Business Women of America.

She married Paul Jacob Baker on July 6, 1929, in Medford OK. During World War II she began working in a hat shop in Enid, the beginning of a career in retail sales. She retired after working as a sales manager of several different departments at Sears, Roebuck in Enid. She and her husband lived for a while in Longdale, OK, and in 1976 moved to California, MO, where he died on February 14, 1988. She moved to Watervliet in 1989 to live with her daughter. She resided in Eden Park Health Care Center in East Greenbush, NY, before she entered Samaritan Hospital. During her retirement years she enjoyed reading, embroidery, crewel, quilting, several kinds of other crafts, was a cat lover, and was interested in all types of flowers and birds.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was predeceased by her brother and his wife, Rev. Theron Audru and Fern Smith Chick; and also by her great-great-granddaughter Elora Mae Knight.

She is survived by one daughter, Betty J. Drach, Watervliet, NY; and one son and his wife, Bob D. Baker and Sally Alario Peters, Houston, TX. She is survived by grandchildren Joseph J. Drach, Jr. (Susan), Alexandria, VA; Ann Kristin Drach, Alexandria, VA, and Nineveh, PA; Elizabeth J. Knight, Glens Falls, NY; Tracy M. Drach, Pittsburgh, PA; Paul E. Baker, Naper ville, IL; Phillip E. Baker (Mary), Oklahoma City; great- grandchildren Christopher Knight, Lyndonville, VT; Stefan G. Drach, Alexandria, VA; Noah R. Baker and Nathan Baker, Oklahoma City; brother-in-law Charles R. Baker (Louise), California, MO; sister-in-law Martha Baker, Purvis, MS; former son-in-law Joseph J. Drach, Nineveh, PA; and several nieces and nephews.

Interment will be, at the convenience of the family, in California City Cemetery, MO, where there will be a graveside memorial service arranged by the Bowlin Funeral Home in California.

Those who wish may send memorial contributions to Community Hospice of Rensselaer County, 295 Valley View Blvd., Rensselaer, NY 12866.

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