Doris Loreen Baker, 83, Humboldt, passed away Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, at Windsor Place in Iola.
Doris was born March 30, 1932, in Humboldt, the daughter of Harvey Marion and Velma Alice (McIntyre) Orcutt. She grew up in Humboldt and graduated from Humboldt High School in 1950.
On June 18, 1950, Doris married Melvin G. Baker at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Humboldt. They have always made their home in Humboldt. Doris worked as a nurses aide in the intensive care unit before training to become a Certified Physical Therapy Assistant. She helped start the Physical Therapy Department at Neosho Memorial Hospital in Chanute and ran the department for 15 years.
Doris was a “hobby florist” and was well known for her floral arts and crafts she created and sold from her home and at art and craft shows. She also had a beautiful soprano voice and sang for many weddings and funerals. She enjoyed gardening and canning her produce for many years. Furniture refinishing and re-upholstering was another hobby she enjoyed.
She was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Humboldt, where she had taught Sunday School and was active in the church Guild. She was also a member of the Humboldt Historical Preservation Association.
Survivors are her husband of 65 years, Melvin G. Baker; four children Richard E. Baker and wife Debbie, Fennimore, Wis., Judy Kiehl and husband Tom, Palatine, Ill., Ron Baker and wife Ellie, Concordia, Mo., and Lori Moran, Iola; two siblings, Steven Orcutt and wife Cecelia, Iola, and Betty Becker and husband Bob, Mission; uncle Richard Pearman, Iola; seven grandchildren, Adam, Melinda, Matthew, Alice, Kristen, Ryan and Clarie; six great-grandchildren, Sadie, Julia, Leslie, Eli, Natalie and Patrick; two stepgrandchildren and three stepgreat-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter-in-law Mary Baker, son-in-law Mike Moran and aunt Agnes “Peggy” Pearman.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Humboldt. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.
Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Humboldt.
Memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Memorial gifts may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel in Iola, which is in charge of arrangements. To sign the guest book online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
Doris Baker
