Faetta “Faye” Baker
Mount Vernon, Wash.
Jan. 26, 1918 – Feb. 15, 2017
Faye Baker, age 99, passed away peacefully at the Life Care Center in Mount Vernon, Wash. on Feb. 15, 2017. Faye was born Jan. 26, 1918 in Detroit, Mich. to Bernie E. Foote and Winnifred Botma Foote. She was the third child in a family of nine children. When she was about two years old she and her family moved to western Washington living in several different locations. Several years of her childhood were spent in Tacoma where she went to the public schools, married her first husband and gave birth to her two oldest children.
During World War II she and the boys moved to Fort Worden to live with her parents and their remaining three youngest children. It was at the fort that she met her life love while practicing her favorite activity, roller skating. Her future husband was from Iowa and stationed at Fort Worden at the time. They were married on Feb. 12, 1943 at the post chapel. Faye stated several times that this was the most enjoyable and carefree time in her life, living on the fort.
After the war Faye and Russ and their two boys moved into Port Townsend. It was shortly after they left the fort that Faye gave birth to Patty Jean. Faye was mostly a housekeeper and mom for most of those years often working as a waitress and a grocery clerk and checker at Sullivan’s Grocery store. After 40 years, Russ retired and they traveled throughout the United States in their RV visiting old army friends and relatives. In 1999 they sold their RV and lived at the Cedars in Burlington, Wash. Their final home was at Mountain Glen Retirement Home in Mount Vernon where they lived for four years and then on to the Life Care Center.
Faye was preceded in death by her parents; son Phil Baker (Sharon) of Renton; her husband Russ; and five siblings. She is survived by her daughter Patty Kilmer (Dick); son Skip Baker (Shirlene); and two sisters, a brother as well as 21 great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild. The graveside service will be on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 1 p.m. at the Hawthorne Funeral Home. A special thank you from Faye’s family for the love and care she received from the Life Center staff and Hospice.
Please share your thoughts of Faye and sign the online guest register at www.hawthornefh.com. Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home, Mount Vernon, Wash.
