Jeanette F. Baer

CHARLESTON, IL – Jeanette Fay Baer, age 84 of Charleston, joined her husband in their Heavenly Home on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 while at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.  Visitation for family and friends will be held from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at Wesley United Methodist Church, 2206 Fourth Street in Charleston.  The Funeral Service honoring and celebrating her life will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday at the church with Pastor Tom Corum officiating.  Entombment will be Monday, March 4, 2019 in the Star of Hope Mausoleum at Graceland Fairlawn Cemetery in Decatur, Illinois.  Memorial gifts in her honor may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church or Lincoln Log Cabin Foundation, and left at the visitation/service or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Dr., Charleston, IL 61920.

Jeanette was born August 9, 1934 in Decatur, Illinois, the daughter of the late Archie and Sophia (Peck) Fawley.  For many years Decatur was home to Jeanette.  She grew up attending First United Methodist Church, was a 1952 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School, and where she met and married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life.  Jeanette and Donald Eugene Baer were married June 10, 1956 and celebrated 45 years of marriage and friendship prior to his death on November 19, 2001.  Left to cherish their many loving memories are her two children, Lynette Drake and Larry Baer and wife Michelle, all of Charleston; four grandchildren, Autumn Hildreth and husband Jeremy, Hannah Drake and fiancé Josh Diaz, Michael Drake and Cameron Baer; a great-granddaughter, Bonnie Hildreth; her brother, Ivan Fawley of Saratoga, California; brother-in-law, Wayne Johnson of Wadsworth, Ohio; five nieces and two nephews.  In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded by her son-in-law, Mike Drake; a sister, Juanita Johnson; and sister-in-law, Bernie Fawley.

Jeanette attained her Bachelor’s Degree from Illinois State University and devoted her life to teaching.  Her formal teaching career spanned 25 years as an elementary school teacher in Lafayette, Indiana, Bloomington and Decatur, Illinois school districts.  Jeanette never lost her love for teaching children and after her move to Charleston 17 years ago, she volunteered many hours at Mark Twain and Carl Sandburg schools.

Jeanette was a woman who possessed a deep and abiding faith.  She was a long-time member of Grace United Methodist Church in Decatur, and following her move to Charleston became an active and devoted member of the Wesley United Methodist Church family.  She actively participated in teaching youth Sunday School classes, directed Vacation Bible School, and at Wesley was a member of the Friendship Class, enjoyed small groups, served on various committees, and especially was devoted to helping with the memorial dinners. 

Jeanette’s kind and caring concern for others prompted her to volunteer her time as a receptionist for the Tarble Arts Center and the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site.  An avid reader herself, she was inspired by Lincoln, and every year on Lincoln’s birthday, she could be found at Lincoln Log, dressed in vintage clothing and reading to the children.  Jeanette was a wonderful seamstress and meticulous quilter.  She loved flowers and tending to her flower gardens and her home was always adorned with the decoration of each and every holiday and season.  She was extremely outgoing and enjoyed many friendships including two very special friends; one shared the joy of traveling and the other the love of quilting.  Jeanette’s calendar was always booked – traveling with senior groups, attending local events such as concerts, plays and parades; day trips to local sites of interest; and the many opportunities that the EIU Academy of Lifelong Learning offered.

Nothing was more paramount in her life than her love for her family.  She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and she particularly enjoyed the special times shared with her grandchildren and attending their many activities, music events and memorable life moments.  Jeanette always found and appreciated the true blessings in life.  She was always positive, extremely kind, and felt blessed to have been surrounded by the love of her parents, husband, children, other relatives and friends.  In turn, they were blessed with her love and devotion which they will always cherish.