Elaine Warren Warren Baker

Helen Elaine Warren Baker, 89, passed away peacefully at her home in Midland, Texas on May 25, 2014. Elaine was born July 17, 1925, in Houston, Texas, and grew up in College Station, where she was chosen Class Favorite her junior year at Texas A&M Consolidated High School. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in Houston, where she played the bugle in the prestigious Scottish Brigade.

Elaine was born into a remarkable family. Her mother, Inez German Warren, (our "Nana"), was orphaned at an early age, lost her husband during the Great Depression when Elaine turned 13, and took on the roles of father, mother, and breadwinner. Inez reared Elaine and her two brothers without help, and even sent her two sons to college. Elaine's brothers, David Russell "Jack", Warren, and Alton Lionel "Jerry" Warren, subsequently built brilliant careers-- Jack as an engineer/inventor for Welex/Halliburton before he passed away, and Jerry, who is a geophysicist in Houston. Elaine made excellent grades in school, but always was in trouble for talking in class.

In January 1944, Elaine boarded a train to St. Louis, Missouri to wed Lillo Munger Baker. From there, Lillo was sent to Europe with the US Army in WWII, and Elaine returned home to Houston. Lillo survived the Battle of the Bulge and returned to Texas. They moved to Midland in 1947, and joined the First Presbyterian Church, where she taught President George W. Bush in third-grade Sunday School. In 1968, they left Midland, and moved four times before returning 26 years later, renewing treasured, old friendships.

Elaine served as a volunteer for Midland Memorial Hospital, Midland Community Theatre, and for various organizations in Temple, Texas. She was a charter member of the Midland Symphony Guild, on the Board of Directors for the Abilene Opera Association, and a member of Midland Opera Theatre. In Abilene, she delighted in helping with costume changes and repairs backstage at the Paramount Theatre in Abilene.

Laughing was Elaine's favorite pastime. She was a wonderful, fun-loving mother who kept the family busy with songs, stories, games, contests and wacky experiments. She held turtle races in the sixties in which snapping turtles Robert Richard, Dumb Ole' Guthrie and others competed for prizes. Once, she greeted formal dinner guests wearing a hillbilly hat and messy wig, and often danced with her chartreuse chicken puppet at parties. She would laugh and play with her children, and could outsmart them, too. On occasion, her son Greg tried to sneak out of the house, so she nailed the windows shut. Greg said he knew she had done it because of the crooked nails.

Elaine's innocent one-liners were clever, including, "I can't sleep in the car unless I'm driving." On losing loved ones, she said, "I just wish we could all die at once." Recently, she talked about beautiful "G" Street Park, near their home on Storey St., "And it had good tadpoles, too!" After an appendectomy a few years ago, she claimed ,"I had everything I was born with till they took out my appendix. I was kind of sorry to lose that. I wanted to be complete." She worked hard at keeping a beautiful lawn and garden, and sewed curtains and clothes like a professional. She was happiest in the company of her family--Greg, Beth and Charlie, daughter Beverly, who preceded her in death, and the dear friends and hallmates of Manor Park, aka "Mana Parka Epsilon".

She is survived by her son Greg Baker of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and daughter Beth Qualia and husband Charlie of Midland, Texas. The family wishes to thank Brenda Dunn, Maria Adame, Mary Pena and Hospice of Midland for their excellent care.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a charitable donation to Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Midland, 714 W. Louisiana Ave., Midland, TX 79701, New Direction Ministry, (founded by True-Lite Christian Fellowship), P.O. Box 1541, Midland, TX 79702, or to The Aphasia Center, 5214 Thomason, Midland, TX 79703.

Private services will be held at First Presbyterian Church. In memory of Elaine's independent spirit and joyful life, family and friends will gather for a memorial dinner at Midland Country Club in the coming days.