Maggie Sue Baker

August 13, 1915 - May 29, 2012

Mrs. Maggie Sue Beasley Baker, age 96, widow of Hubert Curtis Baker and a resident of Jones Valley Road in the Water Valley Community peacefully went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at NHC Healthcare of Hillview in Columbia Tennessee where she had resided since September, 2008. A Celebration of Life Service will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Friday, June 1, 2012 in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home with her grandsons; Pastor Dave Baker of Columbia and Pastor Dan Baker of Iowa officiating. Interment will follow at the Goshen Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will visit with friends on Thursday, May 31, 2012 from 4:00 " 8:00 PM and again at 1:00 PM until service time on Friday. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements and assisting the family. She was born August 13, 1915 in Williamsport to Harlan and Lillie Alexander Beasley. She attended Woodrow School until she was 13 years old. Her family then moved to Jones Valley Road, two mile west of Water Valley where she attended Santa Fe School through the ninth grade. Maggie Sue Beasley married Hubert Curtis Baker on December 24, 1934. They lived in the Goshen and Fly communities until September, 1936 when they moved to a farm near her parents in the Water Valley community. This was her home until she was unable to care for herself. Mr. Baker died in October of 1990. Mr. and Mrs. Baker moved their church membership from their respective churches to Goshen Methodist Church in 1936 and were both very faithful members as long as they were able. Mrs. Baker was the epitome of a genteel, Southern lady. Her life was dedicated to being a devoted farmers wife and being a good mother to her children. She enjoyed fishing in the farm pond and had much pleasure while playing games such as Rook cards and Chickenfoot (with dominoes). Although she did not look forward to traveling, she made several trips; including Beersheba Springs, The Great Smokey Mountains and Pensacola, Florida. She was well-known for cooking delicious meals, and especially desserts. Her made-from-scratch fresh coconut cakes, jam cakes and creamy dropped chocolate candy were her most popular. Her unusual cakes included a turkey cake that was served at Thanksgiving to the delight of her relatives. While she was living alone in her later years, she enjoyed baking pies and giving them to family, neighbors, and friends. Mrs. Baker was not only an accomplished seamstress; she was a creative seamstress. She once took apart a worn-out suit of her husband and used the better parts of the suit to make herself a skirt. Many times she laid out a dress on old newspapers and cut a pattern from which she made dresses. She made her daughters dresses for many years. She loved all small animals and never turned away a stray dog. She could spot a four-leaf clover from a standing position and picked hundreds of them from her lawn. She would then bless many people with the four-leaf clovers taped to get well and other cards. All who knew her will truly miss this sweet, loving and caring woman. Mrs. Baker leaves to cherish her memory; her children, Jewell (JW) Shouse of Santa Fe, Cecil (Marilyn) Baker of Santa Fe, and Rheta (James) Wilkins of Cookeville; a granddaughter, Donna (Jim) Shattuck of Des Moines, Iowa; six grandsons, Dave (Laura) Baker of Columbia, Joey (Tammy) Shouse of Santa Fe, Dan (Maria) Baker of Mediapolis, Iowa, Jeff (Rena) Wilkins of Sparta, Darrell (Diane) Baker of Franklin, and Ray (Candi) Wilkins of Cookeville; along with 24 great-grandchildren, David Curtis Baker, J.T. Shouse, Sarah Baker, Blake Shattuck, Bethany Baker, Alyssa Baker, Jennifer Shouse, Tara Shattuck, Ryan Baker, Leah Baker, Jonathan Baker, Elisabeth Baker, Mark Cecil Baker, Adam Baker, Meredith Shattuck, Darick Baker, Mark Raymond Baker, Savannah Baker, Grant Baker, Laurissa Baker, Rebekah Baker, Cameron Baker, Janessa Baker and Carson Baker. In addition to her parents and husband; Mrs. Baker was preceded in death by two granddaughters, Debbie Baker and Jackie Shouse; two sisters, Jennie Beasley and Louise Johnson; and two brothers, Anderson Beasley and Dallas Beasley. Mrs. Bakers family would like to extend their thanks to Andy and Donna Bennett and their family for being such good neighbors to her for many years. They also express their sincere appreciation to the staff of NHC-Hillview for their tender, loving, and professional care. The presence of Hospice Compassus was very comforting to the family at the end of her life. Active pallbearers will be her grandsons; Joey Shouse, Jeff Wilkins, Darrell Baker, Ray Wilkins, and Jim Shattuck. Also included will be great grandsons; David Curtis Baker, J.T. Shouse and Blake Shattuck and nephews; Keith Baker and Winfred Baker. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of Goshen United Methodist Church and the staff of NHC-Hillview The family suggests that memorials be made to the Goshen Cemetery fund; c/o Winfred Baker, 4638 Bass Alderson Road, Williamsport, TN 38487 or Goshen United Methodist Church, c/o Gaye Peach, 2882 Fly Road, Santa Fe, TN 38482 You may send condolences to the family at the top of the page.