With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our mother, Esther Ray Purkhiser Baker, age 96 of Davenport, Iowa on February 5, 2023. Esther was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend to many.
Esther was born in Nevada, Iowa on October 31, 1926. She was the middle sibling of three daughters of Michael Ray Purkhiser and Josephine Olson Purkhiser. Esther graduated from Nevada High School class of 1945. She went on to the University of Iowa School of Nursing, graduating as a registered nurse in the first class to offer that degree in 1949. Esther met the love of her life, Robert Keith Baker, at the University of Iowa and they married in December 1949.
Making their home in rural Ottumwa, Iowa, Esther and Robert raised five daughters. After a family move in 1961, she worked at the VA Hospital in Knoxville, Iowa, again living in a rural area. After yet another move to rural Davenport in 1968, she worked at Mercy Hospital in Davenport, Iowa, which later became a part of the Genesis Health System. A branch of this system was the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House where Esther was a board member, and another branch was the Befrienders Group where she volunteered for several years.
Esther was active by keeping physically fit at local athletic clubs, throwing hay bales and chasing cows, gardening both flowers and vegetables, and volunteering in the community, especially at the Putnam Museum. Both Esther and Robert were fascinated by flying and acquired private pilot licenses. They each enjoyed taking family and friends on short trips in the area. She loved to travel and learn about other cultures and was able to venture to all seven continents, most travelling with Robert. She volunteered with Global Volunteers and offered her nursing skills to several countries including Vietnam and Indonesia.
Esther was a devoted member of Grace United Methodist Church in Davenport for 55 years and served on many committees and as a Sunday School teacher.
Esther was predeceased in death by her husband Robert in 1986, and sisters Betty A. Hemstreet of Ames, Iowa, and Patricia L. Reid of LeClaire, Iowa. She is survived by her five daughters, Ann Marie Baker Horsey of Dover, Delaware; Susan Kay Baker of Bettendorf; Rea Baker Patzwald of Cincinnati, Ohio; Carol Jean Baker of Davenport; and Christine Baker Sturgis (Joe) of Davenport; grandchildren Aimee Zoe Tubbs, Meredith Renee Gianforte, Robert Wolfe Horsey, Lisa Michelle Story, Evelena Ornelas Valencia, Josephine Elizabeth Horsey, Marcos Rafael Ornelas, and Ryan Baker Patzwald; great grandchildren Ava Marie Conduitt, Haydn Thomas Gianforte, Lauren Renee Gianforte, Syrus Ray J. Story, Hanna Carmen Valencia, Reid Haydn Story, and Camila Esther Valencia.
A memorial service will be held at Grace United Methodist Church, 2651 Telegraph Road, Davenport, Iowa 52804 on Sunday February 12 at 12:30.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House at Genesis Foundation, 1227 East Rusholme, Davenport, Iowa 52803 or online at www.genesishealth.com.
For online condolences, please visit Runge Mortuary and Crematory, Davenport at www.dignitymemorial.com.
