Anne Hungerbeeler Baker

Anne Hungerbeeler Baker, native of Shreveport, LA and resident of Baton Rouge, LA, passed away on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at the age of 89. She is survived by her sister, Bettie Jean Osborne of Ft. Pierce, FL; her brother, Col (USAF, Ret) Henry Lee Hungerbeeler of Leavenworth, KS and his wife Anne; nieces, Deborah Wantlin (Burt) of Ft. Pierce, FL, Kimberley Sipes (Doug) of Shreveport, LA, Cyndie Blaha (Craig) of Nashville, TN, and Lisa McKenzie of Hanahan, SC; nephews, Wiley Osborne (Kim) of The Woodlands, TX and Lee Hungerbeeler (Robin) of Leavenworth, KS; and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, William C. Baker; parents, Lee and Carmie Hanson Hungerbeeler; and her sister, Carmie Roberson.

Anne earned her B.S and M.ED. in Math and other areas of science and education. She taught in Calcasieu, Caddo, and East Baton Rouge parishes and finished her career as a guidance counselor at Baton Rouge High School. She joined her beloved Kappa Kappa Iota, one of the oldest educational organizations in the United States, in October 1959. In 1962 she was the recipient of the Eta State Scholarship. She served as Eta State/Louisiana President from 1966-1968. In 1983 Anne was presented with the Loretta Doerr Achievement Award, the highest honor given to a Kappa member in the state of Louisiana. Anne held every office at the local, state and national levels and served as National President in 1986-87. Anne served as a leadership mentor to many Kappa Kappa Iota members in our state and nationwide. She was highly respected and esteemed by her colleagues for her professionalism and her knowledge of everything Kappa. She was revered as the one with the answers to any parliamentary question. Because of her great knowledge in that area, she was asked numerous times to lead workshops for state presidents on the subject, and she served as parliamentarian for many State and National Presidents. Anne's dedication to the education of our youth and to the purposes of Kappa Kappa Iota made her an icon in the world of education.

Anne served for 35 years on the board of Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL), including time as the first woman to be board chair. During her tenure on the board the system assets increased from $1B to more than $15B and she oversaw the implementation of many beneficial changes for Louisiana teachers. Her many friends and colleagues describe her as the epitome of grace and class and having the utmost integrity, honesty, and transparency. A TRSL Resolution states “…her historical knowledge of the System will be impossible to replace.” She was a dedicated member of Louisiana’s education community for almost 60 years and touched thousands of lives in a positive way.

Along the way Anne met presidents and royalty, but her heart always belonged to her students. Anne’s leadership expertise, whether in the school system, the Teachers' Retirement System or Kappa Kappa Iota will not soon be replaced.

She also enjoyed spending time with family and friends, gardening and traveling.

Visitation will be held at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA on Monday, March 14, 2022 from 12 pm until funeral service at 2 pm. Burial will follow in Greenoaks Memorial Park. The family requests that because of Anne’s deep love for all children, in lieu of flowers please consider a donation to The Namayana Project, a 501(c)3 Christian school for impoverished children. Donations may be made at www.namayanaproject.com Please visit www.greenoaksfunerals.com to leave condolences to the family.