Margaret Rebecca Baker, passed away after a brief illness at approximately 3:50am on Tuesday, October 14th at St. Peter's Hospital in Olympia, Washington. My grandma was born Margaret Rebecca Nye over 90 years ago in Barry, Illinois. Her family moved to Olustee, Oklahoma when she was a young child and she lived there until she left for what is now Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. Upon graduation from college, she moved to a very small town of Freedom, Oklahoma in 1941 to teach. There she boarded with Jean Cordia Baker. As the story has been told to me, Jean’s 5-year-old son, Jim was absolutely smitten with her. She was his sweetheart. She even taught him his first poem, which he STILL remembers today. When Jim’s oldest brother, Linwood, returned home on leave from the Army, he couldn’t stop talking about the new local teacher. Too bad for Uncle Jim because I think he convinced his older brother that my grandma was an angel. I don’t know if it was my Uncle Jim’s lack of courting skills, or perhaps his age, but my granddad broke his little heart when he married my grandma.
My grandparents had two children, my Aunt Linda and my dad. My dad always told me how wonderful of a mother she was. She was so wonderful that she never lifted a hand in anger towards him. I’m not sure if he told me this to make me think he was a perfect child or not. I am positive he was not. After all, my grandma told me how she woke up one morning to find a huge mess in her kitchen with my dad, who was only six years old, attempting to make pancakes for the first time and unsupervised. I know what I would have done in that situation, but she took that moment to teach and not to scold. This was very typical of my grandma. She always found opportunities to teach us using life experiences. She wouldn’t judge or criticize us. She encouraged us.
My grandma was an extremely patient woman. I don’t know how many people would spend the time to teach their household pet to speak, but my grandma did. When my dad was a young boy, they had a parakeet named Blueboy, and she taught him how to speak by repeating the same phrase over and over and over again for hours. Not only did Blueboy learn the original phrase, “Hello Blueboy, do you want a kiss,” he had an extensive vocabulary for a parakeet. When I was younger, my grandmother tried to get us grandchildren to teach our own parakeet to talk. None of us had her diligence nor her patience, so it never worked for us. But, it was one of many teaching moments that taught me:: 1)You’ll never make things happen if you stop trying…perseverance and expectation is key; 2) If you give up on others, they’ll give up on themselves. NEVER GIVE UP! My grandma truly enjoyed watching others succeed. (Even parakeets!)
My grandma was a woman of great faith and a pioneer. She didn’t cross snow-covered mountains pulling a handcart, but she overcame obstacles and found truth in her life, which has influenced and will continue to influence generations. She grew up Methodist and was active in her church. But, she still had many questions. While visiting Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah with my granddad and their children in the 1950’s, her heart was softened by the messages shared that day. She signed a card requesting more information about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When she returned home to Fresno, CA she didn’t hear from the church. Finally, a couple of missionaries knocked on her door. She invited them in and she felt the spirit witness to her that what they taught was true. In spite of the protests from her mother, sister and husband, she was baptized along with my father and his sister. Her testimony was unwavering. Her many life experiences only strengthened her testimony. She loved the Lord. She had a testimony of the atonement of Jesus Christ. She knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God who restored the only true church upon this earth. I am grateful for the strength of her testimony, which has helped strengthen mine.
My grandma loved her family. When family situations appeared hopeless, she never gave up. She would just love more.
My grandma didn’t have any favorites. I think all of us grandchildren hoped we were hers, but we all had unique experiences that shaped our own special relationship with her. When I was little, my favorite baby doll broke. She went to the doll repair shop and had it fixed. When I couldn’t find Barbie clothes that I liked, or if they were too expensive to buy, my grandma made me Barbie clothes from patterns she would draw up. When I wanted a princess dress for a middle-school dance, she made it for me, and taught me to sew in the process. When I was upset with my parents, she helped me see things in a new light, and improved my relationship with them. When I told her that I never wanted to die because I was afraid, she told me that there was nothing to fear, and that she would look forward to the time she could return Home.
My grandma’s favorite Hymn “O My Father” concludes:
When I leave this frail existence,
When I lay this mortal by,
Father, Mother, may I meet you
In your royal courts on high?
Then, at length, when I’ve completed
All you sent me forth to do,
With your mutual approbation
Let me come and dwell with you.I know that my grandma accomplished all she had to do. I know that there are many of us who mourn her loss, but are honored to have been shaped by her exemplary life. She was a strong, beautiful, gracious, kind, gentle, thoughtful and loving woman. I find myself already missing the stories she shared with me. I never tired of them. I’ll miss her smile and her laughter; her wisdom and her strength. And I hope that I may live my life in a way that will reflect the kind of woman I have idolized, respected and loved my whole life. I miss you, Grandma.
