Out of love and safety for the health of our family and friends, the family of Dorothy Baker will save our visitation, hugs, and personal greetings for you when it’s safe to do so in the future. Thank you for your prayers. A Celebration of Life for her family only will be on Wednesday, April 15, 2020. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.
Dorothy May (James) Baker was born October 4, 1933 in Los Angeles, California to Henry and Anzie (Dennis) James, and passed away Saturday, April 11, 2020 at the age of 86 years in Enid, Oklahoma. She attended school at Los Angeles Academy graduating in 1952. She attended Pacific Union College where she obtained her Licensed Vocational Nurse degree, she later entered the nursing program at California Community College where she earned her BA as a Registered Nurse. She married Ronald O. Baker, Sr. on June 12, 1955 in Los Angeles. Dorothy worked for Kaiser Permanente Hospital and later she worked for the Los Angeles Co. Health Department as the head nurse for five prenatal clinics, retiring after more than 30 years. She and Ronald moved to Enid in 1997 to be closer to their grandchildren. Dorothy volunteered for the American Red Cross Disaster Team and the Enid Community Corrections Center. She was a long-time member of the Philadelphia SDA Church, serving in several roles, church clerk, treasurer and a deaconess. She loved to roller skate and ride bikes and spending time with her family and friends.
Dorothy enjoyed helping others and had a humble and giving spirit; she didn’t like attention or the spotlight so many times her acts of kindness were done anonymously.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Ronald O. Baker, Sr.; granddaughter, Dawntisha Jones; brother, Henry A. James, Jr.; twin sister, Doris M. Reid and her husband Walter Reid, Sr.
She is survived by two sons and a daughter, Ronald O. Baker, Jr. and wife Mable, of Enid, OK; Stephanie Abell and partner, Patricia Ward, of Enid, OK; Cedric Baker, Sr. and wife Ilene, of Drummond, OK; four grandchildren, Stacy Glaspie and husband Derrick, of Dallas, TX; Starla Abell of Pennsylvania; Breanne Yhazel and husband Derrick, Enid; Cedric Baker, Jr. of Enid; ten great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Marlene Grismore and husband Cordie, of California; Lucretia Nelson, of California; Janie James, of Pomona, CA; brother-in-law Earl Baker, of California; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other family and friends.
Memorials in Dorothy’s name may be made to the American Heart Association, Philadelphia SDA Church or the American Cancer society with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.
Condolences may be made and for those unable to attend, services may be viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com.