Leona Mae Baker, 87

Heaven called Leona home to be with Jesus on Feb. 8, 2015, while in her own living room at North Star Retirement Community.

Leona was born Sept. 2, 1927, to Sidney Johnston and Margaret (Thompson) Johnston Gurn Elder in Beaver, Okla. Her mother and stepfather (Charles Gurn) moved the family to Chicago, Ill., and then to Citrus Heights, Calif., where Leona and her siblings, Florence, Shiryl and Lee, were raised.

Leona graduated from Placer High in Auburn, Calif. in 1945. Furthering her education at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore., Leona met her husband, J.D. Baker. The two married in Greenleaf, Idaho, on June 11, 1950. After a few stints between north/south Idaho and Oregon, the family settled in Hayden, Idaho, in 1962.

Leona and J.D. helped to build the original Hayden Friends Church (now Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel), and acted as youth leaders and Sunday school teachers. Leona was employed as school cook at Hayden Elementary and was involved in PTA while her children attended grade school. Leona volunteered a number of years as cook and counselor at Twin Lakes Friends Camp.

Once the children were beyond grade school, Leona went back to college earning her bachelor's degree in education from EWSU in 1974. She taught in the Coeur d'Alene school district through 1985. She also taught for nine years in the Newberg, Ore. School District where she and her husband resided between 1985 and 1993.

When Leona and J.D. fully retired in 1993, they returned to North Idaho to be close to family and friends, settling in Post Falls until they moved into North Star Retirement Community in 2012.

Leona was once again able to get involved with her passion for kids - not only her own grandchildren, but their teammates as well. She followed her kids and grandkids' sporting events as if it was her responsibility to keep score and be the cheering section. For many, including her children's and grandchildren's friends, Leona will always be known as "Mom Baker" or "Grandma Baker" due to her love and dedication to "family." Her loud cheers and enthusiasm will be missed by all.

Some of Leona's greatest passions were her faith in God and her family, and, oh yes - the Green Bay Packers! She never missed an opportunity to gather her family and extended family together to share in food, fun and festivities. She was the Rock of Gibraltar when it came to keeping her family together.

Leona was preceded in death by her sibling, Lee. She is survived by her husband, J.D. Baker of Coeur d'Alene; children Dave Baker (Diana) of Post Falls, Ron Baker (Mischel) of Hayden, and Jan Barbour (Jim) of Portland, Ore.; grandchildren Chad Baker (Katie) of New York, N.Y., Kyle Baker of Helena, Mont., Tyler Baker of Coeur d'Alene, Brian Baker of Coeur d'Alene and Jaleesa Woodbury (Colt) of Rathdrum, Idaho; four great-grandchildren; sisters Florence Ladeck and Shiryl Boerlin, both of California; and numerous nieces and nephews.

As a spouse, mom, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Leona never stopped sharing her faith by living with joy in her heart, a smile on her face to spread cheer, and a kind word to encourage others - she was always ready to do for others before doing for herself.

Leona will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.

The memorial service for Leona will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Hayden Lake Friends Church (now known as Anthem Friends), 251 W. Miles Ave., Hayden.

Yates Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements. Donations are preferred to the Union Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 4005, Spokane, WA 99220 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

You may visit Leona's memorial and sign her online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.