Patricia Ann Baker

Patricia Ann Heaven Baker (Patti Ann) was born May 22, 1930, in Kansas City, MO. to Lewis P Heaven and Mildred Reeg Heaven. Her young life began at Benton Grade School, and she graduated from Central High School with her Delphian chums in 1947. She was a member of the Friends Community Church at 30th and Bales in Kansas City.

During her teenage and young adult life she enjoyed living at 46th and Rockhill Road in Kansas City, MO in a beautiful house near the Nelson Art Gallery. She told stories of riding the streetcars from the Plaza to Downtown for shopping or for fun. Patricia loved to shop.

In 1950 she married Lawrence D. Baker in that same house on 46th Street, and shortly after, moved to Wichita, Kansas where she had 3 children: Steven, Lori, and Jeffrey. Her greatest joy in life was creating art, and she said her greatest work was her 3 kids. While living in Wichita she was an active member of the Epsilon Sigma Alpha philanthropic sorority and volunteered at St Joseph Hospital.

After her husband’s death in 1967, Patricia returned to the Kansas City area with her 3 children. She bought a house in Prairie Village, Kansas and raised her kids while working 2 jobs. She worked full-time as a Claims Supervisor for Wausau Insurance as well as working part-time in the evenings at the Jones Store Credit Office in Prairie Village. She worked for Wausau for the next 24 years and 17 years in her role with the Jones Store Company. She retired from both in 1995.

She had a love for travel, and visited many countries throughout the world including China, Indonesia, Spain, Ireland, Parts of Mexico, Central, and South America. She always said Bali was the most beautiful place on earth and it was her favorite of all.

In the early 90’s she met her guardian angel, Charles Weinstein, with whom she spent the next 29 years traveling and enjoying life with many friends. She volunteered at Menorah Medical Hospital and worked on the Johnson County Election Board. Her real passion was firmly in the arts and decorating. She spent many hours painting and restoring furniture while working at Revival Home furnishings in Overland Park.

Patricia had a love for “get-togethers” with friends and family and was a planner at heart. She always kept a calendar or scheduler at hand and made sure everyone was aware of “The Plan” whether it be simple lunches with friends, or dinner clubs, or full-blown holiday or birthday parties. She loved the socializing, and she was always at her happiest being with family especially her children and her grandchildren.

At 93, she was still socializing thru her iPhone with Facebook. Suffice it to say, not many people at 93 can navigate an iPhone like she could. In her last few months on this earth, she even made the comment (while waking up from a diabetic coma in ICU no less) …we handed her phone to her…she said, “I missed my phone so damn much!” “Thank you!”

From Patricia to all who loved her…farewell, until we meet again, miss me, but let me go.”

In addition to her children, she leaves behind her sister Dana Sue Neilon, daughter-in-law Susie Clark Baker, grandsons Keaton Baker, Bobby Weinstein, Will Weinstein, Sam Weinstein, granddaughter Mary Weinstein, the Weinstein family; Chuck, Katherine, Jim and Bridget, the Clark family; Sheila, Patrick, Amber, Brendan and Cassandra Clark, Oma Rita Hanusch, grand dogs and grand cats, and too many friends to mention.

She was well-loved and will be missed by all.

A catered reception will be held at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, followed by a graveside service in Mount Moriah Cemetery at 2:00 PM.