Brenda Louise Baker, of Edmond, Okla., died unexpectedly on January 12, 2007, at Deaconess Hospital. She was born on the 28th of August, 1948, in Stockton, California. She is survived by her loving husband, D.R. Baker of Edmond; son and daughter-in-law, Daniel Lee and Tracie Baker of Little Rock; daughter, Amanda Louise Kelly of Edmond; mother, Edith Louise Crossland of Booneville, Ark.; and five grandchildren, Alyssa and Abigail Baker, Brendan, Nicholas, and Amberlynn Louise Kelly. Brenda was a kind, compassionate Christian woman who now resides with her Savior. She graduated from Delta Community College in California with an Associate's Degree in Business, Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, and the University of Tulsa ABA Approved Paralegal program where she was the honor graduate. She held a national certification as a Certified Legal Assistant. Brenda was a longtime employee of the City of Enid as a Personnel Assistant, Administrative Assistant to Stephen L. Smith Inc. of Tulsa, and finally for 13 years, an Administrative Assistant with the Bank of Oklahoma in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City. She was well loved by all those who knew her. A finer Christian woman could not be found. She loved missions and missionaries, helping others and being a help to others. She was a member of Beth El Landmark Baptist Mission of Edmond-Guthrie where she functioned as the church clerk. Brenda was an accumulator of books, smashed pennies, and people, but what she accumulated most was the love of others, and the rewards for service given out by God to very special people. Knowing she has won the over comers crown she has now met Jesus and her father, Arnold Lee Crossland, a sister, Ritta Kubiak, her granddaughter, Hannah Danielle Baker, and son-in-law, James Dean Kelly in the City prepared. Hers was a life lived surrounded by those who love her and will miss her terribly, for she was a short, little, irreplaceable, wonderful wife to a husband and mother to a family that will miss her until that glad reunion day. A graveside service and internment will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 18, 2007, at Carolan Cemetery under the direction of Roller Funeral Home in Booneville, Ark. The family will visit with friends from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, January 17th, at the funeral home. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to: Rose Lawn Missionary Baptist Church, 6610 E. Lattimer Place, Tulsa, Okla. 74115 for the Bible Fund in memorial to her and the work she supported there to give Bibles to those in need. So in closing, friend if you knew her and would like to see her again, meet the Man she knew and accept Him as your personal Savior, Jesus the Christ. That would be her last request of you. Online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com
Published in The Oklahoman on 1/16/2007.