Mary V. Baker

She was born on September 9, 1935 in Escanaba, daughter of Harold B. and Blanche A. (Charlebois) Valentine. Mary graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1954.

On June 1954, Mary married John A. Baker at St. Anne’s Church.

Mary worked at JCPenney’s in the catalog department for several years. Later, she began working as a billing clerk for Dr. William LeMire III and Mary continued working for OSF St. Francis Hospital Medical Group as a billing clerk until she retired.

She was active for many years in the 4-H Club where she organized a sewing group for her daughters and other young girls involved in 4-H. Mary was active in square dancing with the 4-H club also. She enjoyed cross-stitching, reading, and playing cards with family and friends. For many years, Mary enjoyed camping during the summer months as her children grew up. She also loved the many trips and times traveling with John to visit family and friends and site seeing.

She was a member of St. Anne’s Church.

Among survivors are her children, Michelle (Michael) Connor of Gladstone, Mich., James (Erica) Baker of Sarasota, Fla., Cathy (Philip) Hurst of Escanaba, Mich., Julie (Daniel) Campbell of Kennesaw, Georgia, Paul Baker, of Boston, Mass., and Patricia (Michael) Lawrence of Yorktown, Virginia; grandchildren, Gina (John) Harris, Linse DeCamp (Jay Martin), Jason (Mary) Hurst, Kristen Hurst, Shannon (Marty) Bartoszek, Jessica Baker, John (Anna) Baker, Jena (Jessica) Campbell, Morgan (Christopher) Szalwinski, Josh Lawrence, and Jared Lawrence; nine great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John A. Baker; father and mother-in-law, Jane and John Wery; brothers, James and David Valentine; and son, Christopher Baker.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on May 24 at 11 a.m. at St. Anne’s Church with Rev. Fran DeGroot officiating.

Burial will be in the Holy Cross Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials may be made to Holy Name High School Capital Campaign, 409 S. 22nd Street, Escanaba, MI 49829 A message of condolence may be directed to the family by visiting www.crawfordfuneralhomes.net

The Crawford Funeral Homes are assisting the Baker family.