Marvanell Baker, age 65, of Sikeston, Missouri, died on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 7:00 am at her residence. Services were held Monday morning, April 21, 2008 at the Parkview Church of Christ. Burial followed at Friendship Cemetery. Local arrangements were under the direction of Waldo Funeral Home.
Marvanell was born on September 5, 1942 in Durant, Oklahoma, daughter of Morris Pate and Naomi Balch Pate of Sherman, Texas. She moved here in 1990 from Rogers, Arkansas. She had been a Certified Psychological Examiner, receiving her bachelors degree in psychology from Arkansas Technical University in Russellville, Arkansas and her Masters degree in school psychology from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway Arkansas. She worked at the College of the Ozarks with learning disabled students. In Sikeston she was a member of Beta Sigma Phi and was active in the buying and selling of antique collectibles. She married Bruce L. Baker on August 20, 1960 in Sherman, Texas; and the services of the home in Sikeston.
Besides her mother and husband, she is survived by two sons, Tim Baker of Youngsville, Louisiana and James Baker of Houston, Texas; two brothers John David Pate of McKinney, Texas and Morris John Pate of Sherman, Texas; three sisters Patricia Bruce of Denison, Texas, Susie Raines of Kingwood, Texas and Brenda Watkins of Sherman, Texas and four grandchildren.


Bruce Leon Baker, 84, died on June 11, 2923 at his home in Pearland, Texas.  Born in Forum, Arkansas on June 11, 1939, he was the son of James Baker and Drue Gulledge Davis.  He graduated from high school in St. Paul, Arkansas.  He then attended and graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1962.
He started his career at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.  After a year he took a job with Dow Chemical in Lake Jackson, Texas. This lead to him being transferred and in on the ground floor for a new plant for Dow in Russellville, Arkansas.  He then worked for Arkansas Nuclear One in maintenance and training.   A job for Aramco in Saudi Arabia allowed him and Marvanell to do a lot of traveling as they flew back and forth.  Five years later they moved to Rogers, Arkansas where he worked for Crane Co.  After the plant shut down he took a job in New Madrid, Missouri, working at a coal power plant.   He retired from there.
Interests over the years included car repair, photograpy, basketball and softball sports leagues with co-workers.   He was a scoutmaster with the Boy Scout for several years.  During retirement he enjoyed buying and selling antiques.
Survivors include 2 sons, Tim and Cheryl Baker of Lampe, Missouri and James and Rana Baker of Montgomery, Texas; brother, James and Linda Baker of Villa Ridge, Missouri; grandchildren include Kara Armond, Dylan Baker, Alexandra Baker, Hannah Baker and Ramsey Saab; great-grandchildren include Arabella and Kaitlyn Armond.
A graveside service was held at Friendship Cemetery in Sherman, Texas on July 1 , 2023.  He was laid to rest next to his wife, Marvanell Baker.