Betsy Nell Baker

Betsy Nell Baker
June 6, 1941- January 24, 2021

Smithfield, Texas- Betsy Nell Baker, 79, was called home to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 24, 2021. Betsy was born on June 6, 1941, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Clarence and Maebell McMillian. She married the love of her life, Edward (Eddie) Baker, at the young age of 15, on October 19, 1956, in Fort Worth, Texas. They enjoyed 34 wonderful years of marriage. Although the Lord called him home at the age of 54, she remained devoted to him for the rest of her life. There was no greater achievement in her life than making a home for her husband and training her three daughters in the ways of the Lord.

After her children were grown, she began a rewarding career of 25 years at Birdville ISD, where she loved baking for the teachers and children.

One of Betsy’s life enjoyments was gospel music, including Elvis singing “Amazing Grace.” In her early life, she was well known for her accordion playing. She also played the piano and enjoyed singing solos at church.

Betsy, or Nana, as she was affectionately called by so many, had a kiss ready for everyone and a way of making all those around her feel special. She enjoyed sewing all of her daughters’ clothes throughout their childhood, as well as making special gifts for her grandkids. Every holiday was a big family event spent at Nana’s house playing cards, eating peach cobbler, and enjoying time together. It was a special treat each Christmas when Nana would pass out her homemade hog plum jelly. She enjoyed baking strawberry pies for Pastor Kevin Shindoll and he loved to brag about receiving them. One of Betsy’s favorite pastimes was gardening. Summers were spent in her big beautiful garden, planting and growing her own vegetables for her family to enjoy. Another of Betsy’s pastimes was traveling. Eddie and Betsy enjoyed many years of traveling and camping in their big gray van. They drove many miles just to see the changing of the leaves in the fall and the bluebonnets in the spring. After his passing, she continued to travel extensively with family and friends.

If you spent time with Betsy, you quickly realized that her whole life was centered around her Apostolic Faith and family. She faithfully attended Way Of Life United Pentecostal Church for 38 years with Rev. Gerald McGaha and later Rev. Kevin Shindoll as her pastors. At church potlucks, you had to be one of the first in line to get a taste of Nana’s famous Chicken n’ Dumplings.

Betsy’s family will be forever grateful for her lifelong testimony of living for the Lord. She celebrated with each of her grandkids and great-grandkids when they received the infilling of the Holy Ghost and were baptized in the Name of Jesus. The imparting of her faith and lifelong service to the Lord is the most important generational legacy that she leaves.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 34 years Edward Baker; sister, Luetta Reeves; brother-in-law, Frank Reeves; and sister-in-law, Pauline McMillian.

Betsy is survived by brother, Charles McMillian; sister-in-law, Beverly Quackenbush; daughter, Teresa Ingram; daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Michael Ray; daughter and son-in-law, Evelyn and Jay Coffey

She was proud of being Nana to 8 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Grandchildren include: Jennifer Ingram, Stephen and spouse Heidi Ingram, Stephanie and spouse Jaime Ruiz, Ryan and spouse Jennifer Ray, Amanda and spouse Shane LeJeune, Brandon and spouse Maria Coffey, Samantha and spouse Javier Mares, and Breana Coffey.

Great-grandchildren include: Alexander Ruiz, William Ruiz, Priscilla Ruiz, Javier Anthony Mares, Landon LeJeune, Jacob Mares, Truman Ingram, Michaela LeJeune, Lydia Mares, Micah Coffey, Quinne Ingram, Sydney Ingram, Joel Mares, Joshua Coffey, Amelhia Ingram, Hannah Ray, Brooklyn LeJeune, Eden Ingram, Abigail Ray, and Levi Ray.

Viewing and Funeral will be held at Way Of Life, UPC and provided live via WayofLife.church.

Viewing: Thursday, February 4, 2021, 6:00-8:00 PM
Funeral: Friday, February 5, 2021, 1:00 PM

Graveside service to follow at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park.