Thelma Baker

Thelma Louise (Simmons) Baker, 89, Independence, died at Home Aug. 1, 2019. Services will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, Aug. 9 at Christ United Methodist Church, 14506 East 39th St S, Independence, MO 64055; interment at Floral Hills Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday at the church. The family requests contributions to Christ United Methodist Church. Thelma was born Feb. 21, 1930 in Poplar Bluff, MO and graduated from Bismarck High School in the Class of 1947. She was a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell in Cape Girardeau, MO before moving to Independence, MO. She was a Past Vice President of the JayCee Wives in Cape Girardeau and a Red Cross volunteer who worked in the Health Room for the Independence School District from 1972-1986. She was an active member of Christ United Methodist Church for twenty-nine years where she served on the Altar Society for Saturday night services. Thelma was preceded in death by her parents William Alfred and Florence (Hurley) Simmons and four sisters. She is survived by her husband of sixty-two years Allan Baker, of the home; daughter Carol Macken and husband Mark, Kansas City, MO; brother Charles Simmons and wife Barbara, Farmington, MO; sister-in-law Shirley Gibson and husband Don, Cape Girardeau, MO; grand dog Colby; grandsons Josh Macken and wife Kristen; Kyle Macken; James Macken; great-grandchildren Carter, Aubrey, Ellie and many other family members.