A Visitation will be held from 9:00am until 11:00am and followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00am, Friday, October 19th at Eighth Street Baptist Church, 1420 North 8th Street, Kansas City, Kansas.
Beulah Mae Baker was born November 24, 1924 in Kansas City, Kansas. Her parents were Elizabeth Cole and Arthello Baker. She attended Douglass Elementary School, Northeast Jr. High School, and graduated from Sumner High School in 1943. She was an outstanding student in journalism and drama -- under the direction of Edna Hoffman. She was the star in the first school play, “Sinister House”, at the new Sumner High School.
Mr. Mansfield, a teacher at Sumner High School, had the students write cheers for an upcoming game. Beulah's cheer won. "We got it bad and that ain't good. We gonna walk on (insert rival team’s name) like we walk on wood. ‘Cuz our team is really on the beam were gonna win this game and that's what we mean."
She had the pleasure of recently attending an all-school reunion for Northeast Junior High School where she was recognized as the oldest classmate in attendance.
As a teen, Beulah loved to dance. She won and placed in several dance competitions in the city. Beulah married Howard Boswell after graduation from high school. To this union was born two children Brenda Elaine and Erle Wayne. She studied cosmetology at Aline Jefferson Beauty Academy. She became a licensed beautician and instructor for more than 40 years. She owned House of Beauty Salon at 39th and Indiana, Kansas City, Missouri. She later converted her basement to a salon and relocated her business to her home. Beulah retired from the City of Kansas City Missouri as a Greeter and Clerk.
She later married Walter Thomas in 1955, this marriage dissolved and no children were born to this union.
She joined Eighth Street Baptist Church in November 1937. She was very active in her church as a member of the Drama Club, Adult Choir, Welcome Committee, and the church Historic Committee. She, also, assisted with out of town trips for the choir. She was known as a noted speaker welcoming guests or a soul-stirring narrator during the Adult Choir's Command Performances. On August 24, 1996 she was baptized again in the Jordan River in the Holy Land.
Ms. Thomas was a world traveler with her friend Edith Barnes, who preceded her in death. She visited six continents. She also loved to travel abroad and in the United States. She was a member of Club Chazzalite for over 40 years and was a member of Alice M. Brown Eastern Star Masonic Lodge for more than 50 years. She hosted teas and fundraisers.
Beulah was a millinery, made jewelry, and decorated clothing. She loved hats and usually bought one every place she visited.
Beulah was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Esther Glover. She leaves to mourn her loss daughter Brenda (Boswell) Jones, Merriam, Kansas and son Erle Wayne Boswell, Kansas City, Missouri. She leaves three grandchildren, Tracey Houston (Kenneth) of Okemos, Michigan, Anthony Jones of Merriam, Kansas, and Jeannine Boswell of Kansas City, Missouri; two great-grandchildren Trevor Houston and Katelyn Boswell, and a companion of over 40 years, Ross Johnson; nieces Naomi (Baker) Evans and Jennifer (Bell) Callowich, and a host of family and friends.
