Violet Baker

Violet M. Baker, 101, died Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at the Gallatin Rest Home in Bozeman, Montana. Violet was born August 17, 1907, on a rural farm northeast of Cherryvale to William and Sarah Frances (Harp) Ringle. After her early education at a one-room school, she attended Cherryvale High School and graduated in 1925. After her graduation, she worked as a stenographer in the law office of James Brady in Cherryvale. She was united in marriage to Carl C. Baker of Liberty, Kansas, on June 5, 1927 in Nowata, Oklahoma. She went to work as a stenographer and court reporter at Montgomery County Court House in Independence, in Attorney#8217;s Office, serving 4 court judges over the next 15 years, most notably with the late Judge Warren B. Grant. When her husband, Carl, purchased the grocery store in Cherryvale from the late Roy Wicks, Violet resigned her position at the County Attorney#8217;s Office. She and Carl operated the store for 6 years until his death in April 1951. After the store was sold the next year, she went to work for Veeder Supply and Development Company in Cherryvale for 12 years until she accepted a position as a secretary at Four County Mental Health Center in Independence until her retirement at age 69 in 1976. Violet took up a painting class with Leonard Wood as her instructor and where she discovered her gift of painting of scenes related to her childhood memories of the family farm. Many of her paintings were given to her family and friends and several of them are part of the permanent display, given by Kenneth and Patty Core, at the Cherryvale Museum where she was a guest of honor in 2004. She was a member of the First Christian Church; Wednesday Progress Club, one of the original members who started it in 1934 and continued to the last when it was dissolved in 2004; the P.E.O. Chapter and former member of Beta Sigma Phi where she was a past director of Zeta Gamma Chapter. She served many years as a Treasurer of the Cherryvale Public Library and also the Cherryvale Museum which she helped to start with the late Hallene Utter as founding members. She had lived in Cherryvale all of her life until moving to Montana to reside with her daughter and grandson in 2001. Survivors include her daughter, Judith Hykes of Livingston, Montana; 5 grandchildren, John P. Hykes of Livingston, Camille Hykes of Boston, MA, Mark (Cathy) Baker of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Carl S. Baker of West Palm Beach, FL and David Baker of Wilmington, NC. She is also survived by 5 great-grandchildren, Michael, Melissa and Monica Baker of Palm Beach Gardens, and Andrew and Kristin Baker of Greenville, SC. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive her, among them in Kansas are Elizabeth Harder of Overland Park, Martha Keller of Ottawa, Bill Sesher and Charles Sesher, both of Chanute. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Carl, her son Stanley and her son-in-law John T. Hykes. Two brothers and seven sisters also preceded her; Jack Fitch and Ray William Ringle; Susie Nicholson, Florence Couk, Goldie Sesher, Letha Keller, Theresa Matthews, Stella Knoles and Evelyn Gravel. Violet was the last surviving child of her family. The casket will be closed and the family will greet friends from 12:30 to 1:30 pm at the Potts Funeral Chapel in Cherryvale on Monday, August 25, 2008. Graveside services will be held at the Fairview Cemetery at 2:00 pm on August 25 in Cherryvale with the Reverend Gerald Zuck officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Dahl Funeral Chapel of Bozeman, Montana, and Potts Funeral Home of Independence. Memorials in her name may be made to the Cherryvale Museum or the Cherryvale Public Library, and may be left at Potts Funeral Home.