Janet Mirla Terwilliger was born on December 30, 1937 in Battle Creek Michigan to Don and Mabel Terwilliger.  She passed from this life into eternal glory on April 6, 2016.

She grew up the daughter of a pastor, spending her childhood years in Battle Creek, Lansing and Grand Rapids, Michigan.  During her youth, she was involved in many activities, including Youth for Christ.

She graduated from Eastern High School in Lansing in 1956.  From there, she attended Bob Jones University, from which she received a BA in Religion in 1959 and a MA in Religion in 1961.
After graduation, she moved to Anaheim, CA, where she began her teaching career in Christian education, which would become her lifelong vocation and ministry for 41 years.  While attending Central Baptist Church, she met Donald Baker; they married on April 14, 1962.

Her life with her family proceeded from Anaheim to Orlando, FL in 1968, where she taught in Christian schools and served as an elementary principal.  In the summer of 1978, the family moved to Garland, Texas, where she taught at Garland Christian Academy for 24 years, retiring in 2002.

During her teaching career, she also was involved in girls athletics, coaching volleyball, basketball and softball.  She was also very involved with her church, leading Sunday school classes throughout her life.



Janet Mirla Terwilliger is survived by her husband, Donald Baker of Garland; son, John Baker and his wife Patricia of Mesa, AZ, grandsons, Jonathan and Benjamin; son, Joel Baker and his wife Amye of Murphy, TX and grandchildren, Noah, Gage and Sydney.  She is also survived by her siblings Ann Johnson of St Johns, Michigan and David Terwilliger of Gaylord, Michigan.  She was preceded in death
by her parents and one sister, Joan.

She enjoyed spending time with her beloved friends, taking care of their needs both physical and spiritual.  Janet was a devoted grandmother to her 5 grandchildren, taking care of many of them during their infant and toddler years after her retirement.  She took enormous delight in reading to them, talking to them and teaching them.  Janet loved her Bible and her Lord, following Him throughout her life and she is with Him now.

A celebration of Janet’s life will be held Saturday, April 9, 2016 at Lavon Drive Baptist Church in Garland at 11:00 a.m. with Dr. John McCartt and Dr. Gary Coleman, officiating. The family will receive visitors at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow immediately at Van Alstyne Cemetery in Van Alstyne, Texas. 

Funeral services are under the direction of Scoggins Funeral Home & Crematory, 637 W. Van Alstyne, Pkwy. Van Alstyne, TX; 75495.