Mary Frances Bean Baker

Mary Baker, 81, of Clifton, died Sunday. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2007, in the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Ozona, Texas.

She was born in San Angelo, Texas, to the late George and Vada Bean. She graduated from Ozona High School and Baylor University, and later married Boyd Baker on Sept. 10, 1946, in Ozona. Mary was raised on a ranch and lived on one all of her life. She loved to work in the sheep and cattle pens and do the cooking for everyone working. The couple ranched in Terrell, Pecos, Crockett, and Brown Counties. She was active in PTA both on the local and state level for many years. According to family members, her favorite pastime was cooking, playing bridge, sewing, reading, and knitting. In her later years, she took up painting in oils and water color. She made sure each grandchild, niece, and nephew had an afgan by the time they graduated from high school. Mary loved to travel by land, air, or sea. She traveled the world many times, but there were still places she wanted to go. She loved her Sunday School class and the fellowship at First Baptist Church of Clifton. The congregation referred to her as the "hot roll lady."

She was preceded in death by her husband; son, Mike; mother-in-law, Alice; sister and brother-in-law Doris and John C. Johnson; and nephews, David and Dan Bean.

Survivors include her son, Fred Baker and wife, Kay, of Clifton; grandsons, John and Kerrie, of Whitney, and Jason and Carla, of Clifton; great-grandchildren, Jocelyn, Justin, Dacie, Zac, and Chris; sister, Louise Apple, of Georgetown; brother, Joe Bean and wife, Marolyn, of Ozona; and nieces and nephews living all over the United States and Europe.

Waco Tribune-Herald: 5/14/2007