Elaine Baker

Elaine Rowley Baker, our sweet mother and grandmother, went home to our loving Heavenly Father on Saturday, February 9, 2019.  She was born to Edwin Jesse Rowley and Rosilla Allen Rowley (Tenney) on July 19, 1932 in Mesa, Arizona and lived her entire life in Mesa, as did her mother and grandmother.  She was the best of women who dedicated her life to being a wonderful wife, mother, and homemaker, and to serving others.

Elaine was content to spend most of her time in her home with her family and considered it a blessing to be a stay-at-home mom.  She loved sewing, quilting, baking, music, and taking photos.  She made many quilts and won blue ribbons on them in the county and state fairs.  She sewed most of the dresses her girls wore and also a few shirts for her husband and boys.  She was also famous for her pies (especially apple), the Boston cream candy she would make at Christmas time, and her bread and rolls.  She was a meticulous housekeeper who believed in work and keeping things clean and neat.  She loved watching things grow, especially her flowers, and always harvested and made good use of her citrus and pecans.  Elaine also loved to sing, had a wonderful alto voice, and was in several choirs and singing groups over the years, including the Relief Society Singing Mothers.  She especially enjoyed singing with her daughters when she had the chance.

Elaine was a faithful servant of the Lord all of her life.  She was an honest person and an example to all as a member of the 7^th Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She served as a Primary president, counselor, and teacher, Young Women president and advisor, and Relief Society president, counselor, visiting teacher, homemaking leader, and quilting chairman.  Primary was her favorite.

In 1950, Elaine married her sweetheart, William Elmer (Bill) Baker and they were lucky to have celebrated nearly 60 years together.  They dearly loved and enjoyed each other.  They were blessed with six children:  Melinda (Monte) Turner, Randy (Patsy) Baker, Curt (Coleen) Baker, Tom (Ginny) Baker, Nancy (Kumen) Adams, and Aaron (Ruth) Baker.  At the time of her death Elaine and Bill’s posterity included 25 grandchildren and 64 great-grandchildren. We can only imagine the joyful reunion she had with our dad, Bill.  We are thankful for the knowledge that families can be together forever and that we are sealed to them for eternity and will see them again someday.

Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; a great-grandaughter, Liliana Hodnett;  her parents, Edwin Jesse Rowley and Rose Tenney; her brother Duane Rowley (Gwen); and her two sisters, Lois Shepherd (Max) and Joanne Adair (Bill).

The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 977 E. Broadway Road, Mesa, Arizona, 85204, with a visitation beginning one hour prior to the service at 9:00 a.m.  A visitation will also be held on Friday evening, February 15, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the same location.  Interment will be in the Mesa Cemetery.