Elaine Tedrow Baker

Blythewood, SC – Bernice Elaine Tedrow Baker, 96, passed this life Thurs., Jan. 21, 2016. Born in Loving, TX, on April 6, 1919, she was a daughter of the late James Elzie Tedrow and Florence Josephine Baker Tedrow. Elaine graduated at the top of her class from Loving High School and married her high school sweetheart, Bruce E. Baker on Feb. 11, 1938. Following Bruce’s service in World War II as a paratrooper, the couple settled in Loving, their hometown, to raise their family. Elaine was a homemaker whose greatest joy in life was raising her children – Steve, Barbara and Diane –and encouraging them in their various endeavors. Her children say one of her greatest gifts to them growing up was allowing them to enjoy their world - to explore the woods and fields in their rural community on their own with few restrictions, never pressuring them to accomplish someone else’s dreams, but always supporting their choices and proud of them no matter the outcome - even though, as one might suspect, some of those outcomes were pretty horrendous. As her children left the nest, Elaine embarked upon her own career, first attending business school, then becoming a bookkeeper for a local CPA and later for the University of Texas Medical School in Dallas. An expert seamstress, she turned her sewing skills into a side career stitching everything from furniture upholstery to exquisite decorative needlework and wedding dresses. She was equally handy with a hammer and saw and, in her late 80’s, designed and built a beautiful full-size corner china cupboard - all by herself. A devout member of the Church of Christ, Elaine rarely missed a church service until her health began to fail last year. She served her church and her community in many ways over the years - teaching children’s Sunday School classes, organizing church social events, hosting the families of visiting ministers in her home and lending support to a number of church missionaries and children’s homes. In later years, she volunteered as a reading mentor at the local elementary school. Elaine loved working in her yard, feeding the neighborhood Hummingbirds, working crossword puzzles, reading the newspaper, sewing for her family and playing dominos. Her luggage was always packed and ready for visits to her children’s homes, to take trips with their families or to fly across the country to help with newborn grandchildren for as long as she was needed. ‘Mema’ as she was lovingly referred to by family and friends, was devoted to her children, grandchildren and great grands, and they all loved her to pieces and will miss her terribly. After living on the Texas coast for nine years near her son and his family, Elaine spent this last year living in Blythewood with her oldest daughter’s family. She is survived by her son, Stephen E. Baker (Sherry) of Lake Jackson, TX; daughters, Barbara Ball (Keith) of Blythewood, SC, and Diane Lockwood of Laconia, NH; grandchildren, Michelle Baker (David McLaughlin) of Austin, TX, Jeffory Baker of Chicago, IL, Ashley Ball Ghere (Richard) of Edinboro, PA, Laura Ball of Youngstown, OH, Hilary and Elizabeth Grubbs of Manchester, NH; as well as great grandchildren, Timothy, Duncan and Robert Lesgaux. Elaine also leaves behind her nephew-in-law Ben Magouirk who always phoned every Monday and Friday; several nieces and nephews; her domino partner Sue Kritz; her church family and other loving friends and relatives. In addition to her parents, Elaine is preceded in death by her former husband and father of her children, Bruce E. Baker; two sisters, Irene Lane and Edwina Rivers; a son-in-law, Richard Lockwood; a niece, Linda Magourik and two nephews, Don Lane and Wesley Rivers. A memorial service in celebration of Elaine’s life will be held in Loving, TX, on a date yet to be determined. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.

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Elaine Tedrow Baker

April 6, 1919 - January 21, 2016