Melba L. Baker

Melba Louise (Allen) Baker, born May 9, 1934 at Timber, MO to Edgar and Alma (Hurt) Allen. She left this Earth to enter her Heavenly home on February 4, 2020.

Melba was united in marriage to Darel Baker on June 12, 1954. To this marriage two children were born, Steven Baker and Diana (Baker) Howerton.

Following graduation she went to St. Louis and worked as a secretary/stenographer then on to Columbia after her and Darel were married. They then moved back to Texas County and Melba received several teaching degrees. She taught at Lone Oak which was the last one room schoolhouse in Texas County until its closing. Then she taught Middle School Reading and Remedial Reading at Houston R-1 for 22 years. Upon retiring, she and Darel raised Border Collie dogs and had a green house.

Melba loved her family very much and could be found in the kitchen baking bread, cinnamon rolls or frying up a pan of potatoes for any one of us who stopped by. She loved to sew and continued doing so until her health would no longer allow. She loved to read and loved the Lord and made sure we all knew him.

Melba was preceded in death by her husband, Darel; daughter, Diana (Baker) Howerton and her parents Edgar and Alma Allen.

She is survived by her son, Steve Baker; son-in-law, Chris Howerton of Rolla; granddaughters, Sara (Howerton) Miller and husband Lewis of Houston, Shannon Hyer and Shauna Baker of Rolla; grandsons, Nick Howerton and wife Julie of Springfield, Clay Howerton of Rolla and Derek Baker and wife Jerica of Springfield; great-grandchildren, Lewis Miller II, Lane Miller, Ben and Elijah Arl, Wesley, Bradley and Luke Reece, Mya Baker, Caden Howerton, Alyvia, Elana and McKayla McGinnis; sisters, Jean Adams of St. Charles and Carolyn Terrill and husband Wayne of Summersville as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins (many of who were found during genealogy research) and many dear friends at Anutt Community Church and neighbors on County Road 5460.

A favorite author for fun filled reading, Dr. Suess, once stated “The more you read, the more you’ll know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Let my epitaph read: “She spent her lifetime READING.”