Joyce Baker

Joyce Darlene Baker, 75, of Jackson passed away Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, at St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, Missouri.

She was born Feb. 24, 1948, in Indiana to the late Junior and Mildred Hughes.

She grew up in Arkansas, graduating in 1966 from Cord-Charlotte High School. She married that same year and in 1967 had one child. She was divorced in 1968 and in 1970 moved to Jackson.

In 1974, she graduated from Cape Girardeau Beauty School. She worked more than 40 years in the cosmetology industry, retiring due to illness. In 1983, she married Michael R. Baker of Jackson.

In her downtime, Joyce enjoyed spending time with family and friends, camping, traveling and shopping. She especially enjoyed spending time with her great-grandbaby, Emery Annalise, and was very excited to meet and spend time with her newest great-grandbaby, River Nicole Ford.

She was a member of First Baptist Church, where she enjoyed her Sunday school class.

Survivors include her husband, Mike Baker; two daughters, Tammie Fry and Carmen Smith, both of Jackson; two sons, Darrin (Christy) Baker and Dane (Staci) Baker, both of Jackson; 11 grandchildren, Clayton Lawrence of Perryville, Missouri, Taylor Lawrence of Benton, Missouri, Lindsay and Aubrey Baker, Hunter and Conner Tucker and Alexa, Kayla and Jaymz Smith, Katie McAlister and Macy Hayes, all of Jackson; sister, Debbie McKay of Batesville, Arkansas; three nieces and one nephew, all of Batesville; one niece of Oklahoma; and nine great-grandchildren.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents and one brother.

A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at First Baptist Church, with a meal to follow.

Ford and Liley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.