Alta Lou Baker

ALTA WAS BORN ON DECEMBER 19,1934, IN KANSAS, OK, TO WILLIAM (BILL) GARNER AND JANE LAMONT GARNER. SHE GREW UP SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND THE STRONG VALUES THAT WOULD GUIDE HER THROUGHOUT HER LIFE.
ALTA BEGAN HER PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY AT PITTSBURGH STEEL BEFORE FINDING HER TRUE CALLING AS A TEACHER'S AIDE AT KANSAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN KANSAS, OK. HER PASSION FOR WORKING WITH CHILDREN WAS EVIDENT IN THE MANY YEARS SHE DEVOTED TO NURTURING YOUNG MINDS AND SHARING HER KNOWLEDGE.
FAMILY WAS CENTRAL TO ALTA'S LIFE. SHE WAS THE PROUD MOTHER OF TWO SONS, KURT AND KARL. THOUGH KURT PRECEDED HER IN DEATH, HER LOVE FOR BOTH OF HER CHILDREN REMAINED STEADFAST. ALTA'S LEGACY CONTINUES THROUGH HER SURVIVING FAMILY, SON, KARL BAKER, ADOPTED GRANDDAUGHTER, MIKAYLA GOSS, AND TWO ADOPTED GREAT GRANDSONS, WYATT AND WAYLYNN.
ALTA'S LIFE WAS RICH WITH FAITH, LOVE OF MUSIC, AND HER COMMUNITY. A DEVOTED MEMBER OF LOWERY FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH, SHE FOUND JOY IN SINGING HYMNS WITH HER CHURCH GROUP AND READING THE BIBLE DAILY. EVEN WHEN SHE TRANSITIONED TO HOSPICE CARE, HER SPIRITUAL CONNECTION REMAINED STRONG THROUGH VISITS FROM TERRY WOFFORD OF KANSAS FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, WHO WOULD READ SCRIPTURE AND PRAY WITH HER.
MUSIC PLAYED A SPECIAL ROLE IN ALTA'S LIFE. SHE LOVED TO SING AND MADE ANNUAL TRIPS TO BRANSON, MO, TO PERFORM AT THE JUBILEE. HER VOICE BROUGHT COMFORT AND HAPPINESS TO THOSE AROUND HER.
ALTA ALSO ENJOYED MONTHLY SENIOR LUNCHEONS WITH FRIENDS, WHERE LAUGHTER AND FELLOWSHIP WERE ALWAYS ON THE MENU. A TALENTED COOK AND BAKER, ALTA COULD OFTEN BE FOUND IN THE KITCHEN PREPARING MEALS THAT BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER.
IN HER EARLIER YEARS, SHE MAINTAINED A LARGE GARDEN ON HER PROPERTY IN KANSAS, OK, A TESTAMENT TO HER HARDWORKING SPIRIT AND LOVE FOR NATURE.
ALTA'S WARMTH EXTENDED BEYOND HER IMMEDIATE FAMILY; SHE WAS A CAREGIVER AT HEART. ALWAYS READY WITH A LISTENING EAR OR A HELPING HAND, SHE OPENED HER HOME AND HEART TO ANYONE IN NEED.
HER CONTAGIOUS LAUGH AND UNWAVERING DRIVE LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON ALL WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING HER.
ALTA WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HER PARENTS, WILLIAM (BILL) GARNER AND JANE LAMONT GARNER, HUSBAND, CHARLES (CLIFFORD) BAKER, TWO BROTHERS, VIRGIL AND RICHARD GARNER, AND SON, KURT BAKER.
A FUNERAL SERVICE HONORING ALTA'S LIFE WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2025, AT 2:00 P.M. LOCATED AT KANSAS CEMETERY, 520 N DELAWARE ST, KANSAS, OK