Mary Lynn Von Hatten Baker

Mary Lynn Baker, age 67, passed away at her home in Watertown, Massachusetts, surrounded by her loving family, on Sunday, December 4, 2016, after courageously fighting cancer for four years. She spent most of her life in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and was a 1967 graduate of St. Scholastica Academy and a 1971 graduate of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. It was her honor and privilege to be a local pioneer in the Reading Recovery program in the Fort Smith Public Schools system and she retired after 26 years of working with young children. She had a love for family, reading, gardening, and cooking. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Mary Lynn is survived by her husband of 44 years, Larry, two sons, Brian (Christine Chen) and Dave (Veda Murthy), a daughter, Laura Schaub (Peter), a grandson, Eugene, her parents, Buddy and Tina Von Hatten, a brother, Mike Von Hatten, two sisters, Cathy Von Hatten and Nancy Kleinschmidt, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her brother, Bernie Von Hatten.

A visitation will be held on Friday, December 16, 2016 at 6:00 pm, followed by a rosary at 7:00 pm, at Fentress Mortuary Chapel, 1805 N. A Street, Fort Smith. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2016 at 10:00 am at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1920 S. Greenwood Ave., Fort Smith, and inurnment of ashes will follow at the Christ the King Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Scholastica Monastery P.O. Box 3489 Ft. Smith, AR 72913, the Fort Smith Public Schools P.O. Box 1948 Ft. Smith, AR 72902, or to the donor’s choice of charity.