Mary ‘Mary Lou’ Louise Baker

She was born in Rice Lake, Wis., on April 30, 1923, daughter of Clarence Edward and Lucille Justine (Teske) Soderberg. Mary Lou was raised and attended school in Rice Lake, graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She worked as a social worker, retiring from Newberry Regional Mental Health Center in Newberry, Mich. Following her retirement, she moved to Escanaba in November 2010.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Escanaba and a member of the Nature Conservancy.

Mary Lou was a loving mother who cherished raising and taking care of her children. She enjoyed family, nature, music, art and words.

Survivors include her children, Margaret Eileen McGinty (Robert) of Kalaheo, Hawaii, Catherine Louise Watson (Thomas) of Gladstone, Mich., Paul Fredrick Sainio of Ridgeway, Colo., Jeffrey William (Devonne Baneck) of Milwaukee, Wis.; grandchildren, Kira and Brendan McGinty, Shana Fisher, Kevin Sainio, Brent Watson, Eric Sainio and Laura Sainio; seven great-grandchildren; nephews, John and Eric Soderberg; and cousin, Mary Grayson.

Mary Lou is preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Lucille Soderberg; and brothers, John and Carl Soderberg.

Her memorial service will be held this summer, as per her wishes.

The family wishes to thank the people at Lakeview Assisted Living and U.P. Health System Home Care and Hospice caretakers for their wonderful support.

A message of condolence may be directed to her family by visiting crawfordfuneralhomes.net.