Joyce Elaine Baker

On Wednesday, June15, 2016, with a renewed steady and strong gait, Joyce Elaine Baker entered Heaven to be with her Lord and the love of her life, Gene. Born November 19, 1929 in Brenham, Texas, Joyce had been struggling with Parkinson’s disease, and most recently with the sudden onset of severe infections. She passed with loving family members at her bedside at the Houston Hospice.

Family visitation will be at Earthman Funeral Home in Bellaire on Monday, June 20th, from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM. A memorial service will be held at the Clarewood Chapel at 7400 Clarewood, Houston, TX 77036 at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, June 21st. Following the service, she will be laid to rest at Prairie Lea cemetery, next to her beloved Gene, in Brenham at 3:00PM.

Joyce was strong in her faith and all knew that her soul was secure. Her guiding principal throughout life was to always put God first, her husband second, her family third, and everything after that would fall into place.

Joyce grew up in Brenham and graduated from Brenham High School. Joyce and Gene first met in 1948, while she was shopping at JC Penny where Gene was a clerk. Their eyes met, and they knew instantly that they were both in love.

Joyce and Gene were married in Brenham on September 3, 1950. They raised three children in Bellaire – Susan, married to John Love residing in Fredericksburg, David, married to Jessica Bryant Baker, residing in Houston, and Janet, married to Duncan McCallum, living in Gilmer, Texas. Joyce and Gene had five grandchildren and two great grandchildren – Christopher Love (wife Amira and their son John) and Patrick Love, and Bryan McCallum (wife Rebecca and their son Leeland), Lauren McCallum and Erin McCallum.

She and Gene traveled extensively after retirement. They loved to travel with the Community Club, and visited such places as Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, and throughout the Continental United States. And Joyce especially liked to travel to Coushatta, where she thoroughly enjoyed herself while playing the slot machines.

They also enjoyed many activities with their family and friends, Community Bank, their church, and later, Clarewood House. Weekly, Joyce and Gene went back to their place just outside Brenham were they were long-time “weekend ranchers”. After Gene’s passing and her Parkinson’s symptoms became more evident, Joyce appreciated the warmth of her friends and the Chapel in the Clarewood House community.

Joyce was probably the kindest, gentlest, and sweetest person you could meet. She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered, and her passing is proof that our Lord has a preference for taking the best. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Clarewood House Charitable Trust or to Houston Hospice