Jerry Baker

Jerry Lee Baker, age 78, passed away Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at the Hospice of Arizona facility in Surprise, Arizona, after a brave battle with ovarian cancer. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 2, 1932 to John and Iva Mason. Jerry grew up in St. Louis County, attending Wellston Public Schools. While attending Wellston High School, she gave birth to her daughter Linda. She was married to Eldon Tolley in 1948 and in 1956 gave birth to their second child Kevin. Jerry wanted to stay as close to her children as possible during the day, so while Linda was in elementary school, she worked in her school cafeteria; also taking on role of Brownie troop leader, and Girl Scout advisor. When the family moved out to the St. Louis suburb of Bridgeton Jerry continued to work and be a fulltime wife and mother as Linda and Kevin moved through school and into college. She also got her GED during that time and started course work in business at a local community college. After divorcing in 1975, Jerry moved to Arizona to be closer to her daughter Linda and son-in-law Larry, as they anticipated the birth of their first child Tyler. Jerry was working for Coke-a-Cola at the time in St. Louis, and was easily transferred to the branch in Tucson because of the quality work she had done in St. Louis. Shortly thereafter she was recruited by the Finley family in Tucson, owners of the Miller Brewing Distributorship, to become a part of their sales team. She was a top notch sales person who supported her company with great pride, interest and knowledge. It was during her time with Miller Distributing that she met Jim Baker, and the rest is wonderful history as they partnered as combined families with Jim's existing children. They were married in 1980 at Northminister Presbyterian Church in Tucson on May 5, and continued living in Tucson until Jim was transferred by Associated Grocers to the Phoenix area. They lived in Phoenix for five years and then became business partners with Jerry and Jill McKeever to build and open a Country Kitchen restaurant in Wickenburg, Arizona, where they have remained for 25 years. Jerry has been a fascinating and focused community member during her time in Wickenburg. She was a twenty year member of Soroptimist International, Founder of the Wickenburg Youth Foundation and Advisor to the Young Life Chapter of Wickenburg, as well as a active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wickenburg. Jerry is preceded in death by her parents, John and Iva Mason. Jerry is survived by her loving husband of nearly thirty years, Jim of Wickenburg; sisters Betty Mullinix of Dallas, Susan Quillman of Chandler; brother John Mason of St. Louis; sisters-in-law Norma Baker of Pueblo, Colorado, Vivien Mierke of Seattle; brothers-in-law Don Pritchard of Seattle an Don Farmer of Tribune, Kansas; daughters Linda (Larry) of Tucson, Jo Ann of Wickenburg, and Kim of Wickenburg; sons Kevin (Veronica) of Los Angeles and Bill of Wickenburg; grandchildren Tyler, Derek (Michelle), Luke, Stephany, Jenna, Jasmine, Taylor, Benjamin, Heather, Chris (Michelle), Jeremy, and Gary; three great-grandsons Nolan, Noah, and Zach, and numerous nieces and nephews. And her beloved dog "Annie B" A celebration of Jerry's life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Wickenburg on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. The family suggests memorials in Jerry's name be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Wickenburg, or the Young Life Chapter of Wickenburg.