Jane Ann Baker

Born on August 3, 1944, to Lessel and Helen (Miller) Baker, Jane was a vibrant and independent woman. A 1962 graduate of Leo High School, she continued her education at a local business college, embarking on a career with several companies through a temporary agency, including Nobles Machinery and Magnavox. Her dedication and strong work ethic were consistently praised by her employers. However, family came first, and Jane made the selfless decision to leave the workforce to become her parents’ full-time caregiver.

Life in the country fostered Jane's self-reliance and intellectual curiosity. A voracious reader with a sharp mind, she found joy in word searches, crossword puzzles, and especially challenging jigsaw puzzles. Her home was always open to visitors (a prior phone call was mandatory!), offering a warm welcome and often spirited debates – with her mother. Dinners were frequently followed by a hearty game like chicken foot dominoes.

Jane possessed a deep love for animals, acting as a loving mother to a succession of cherished companions: her German Shepherd, Heidi; Pomeranians, Gretchen and Boo; and cats, Tabitha, Princess, and Bo. Years later, she could vividly recall the unique personality of each.

After her father's passing, Jane became her mother's devoted companion, sharing countless day trips and antiquing. Even with her responsibilities at home, she still managed to cherish an evening out with friends from her singles group.

Her final years at Grey Stone were spent soul searching and looking for purpose from the confines of her bed. For being a private person, she painted a vivid picture of her life and those she loved. While the depth of her reflections and the answers she found remain largely private, one question she definitively resolved, after thorough and meticulous research, was the superiority of Mister Coney's hot dogs over its well known competitor.

In addition to her parents, Jane was preceded in death by her parents, and her half-siblings: Margaret E. Adams, Irvin “Bud” Baker, and Norman E. Baker.

She is survived by her many nieces and nephews.