10/30/2025
In Loving Memory of Doris Jean Baker
July 20, 1937 – October 23, 2025
Heaven gained a beautiful soul when Doris Jean Baker was called home to be with the Lord on October 23, 2025. Born July 20, 1937, to Hadie Mae Vickers and Issac Levi Baker, Doris lived a life filled with faith, creativity, and unconditional love.
Doris was the proud mother of nine children who were the joy and heartbeat of her life: Eldon Williams of Hamilton, OH; Jeff and Donna Williams of Hamilton, OH; Tammy and Paul Davis of West Alexandria, OH; Jerry Combs of Hammersville, OH; Judith Hanley of Panama City, FL; Roger and Sammi Green of Springdale, AR; Allen and Kim Green of Lowell, AR; Debbie and Roosevelt Shelton of Wadsworth, OH; and Ed and Julie Green of Harrison, AR. Her love extended far beyond her immediate family to include 29 grandchildren, countless great- and great-great-grandchildren, and many others she affectionately called her “heart-adopted” family.
Our mother’s hands were rarely still—she loved to sew, paint, write, dance, sing, and make dolls, each creation touched with her warmth and imagination. Her laughter could fill a room, and her songs often lifted the hearts of those around her. Doris’s greatest joy came not from what she made, but from the people she made—her children, grandchildren, and all who were blessed to be loved by her.
She faced her final days the way she lived her life—with grace, strength, and faith. Surrounded by music and messages of love, she celebrated her “homegoing” to Heaven with peace in her heart.
The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the Hospice team, especially her nurse Regina and chaplain Wesley Adams, for their compassionate care, thank you for being there for mom.
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A letter to my children,
To my firstborn, Eldon:
You made me a mother. From the moment I first held you, my world changed forever. You’ve always had a quiet, gentle way about you — steady and loving, never needing many words to say what your heart already shows. You have a kindness that forgives easily, and a tenderness that runs deep. I always loved hearing you play your guitar — it felt like your soul speaking. You gave me my first grandchild, and that bond between us has always been special. No matter how far apart we were, there was never a moment I didn’t feel your love.
To my son, Jeff:
You have carried so much on your shoulders — more than anyone will ever know. You’ve looked after others, stood strong for family, and lived with a protector’s heart. I know sometimes you felt I wasn’t there enough, that we missed moments we should have had. But please know this: my love for you has always been constant, and it goes with you still. I have never left you, and I never will. You are a wonderful father and provider, and I see the best parts of me living on through you.
To my daughter, Tammy:
You’ve always made me proud. You were driven, focused, determined — always the one with her books open, chasing excellence. You built a life of integrity and compassion, and you’ve cared for others as a nurse with the same gentleness your grandma showed you. Though life didn’t give us the same kind of mother-daughter closeness others had, I want you to know I always admired you, and I was grateful that your grandma got to raise another beautiful soul. You made us both proud.
To my son, Jerry:
Oh, my Jerry — you could always make me laugh. “Captain Strozk” with your beer-can hat and your big personality. You brought fun wherever you went. You were my joy-bringer, the one who could lighten even the heaviest days. Our relationship was easy because you made it that way — full of laughter, teasing, and love. I’ll always carry that laughter with me.
To my daughter, Judy:
My middle child — my heart. You came right in the center of it all, with four before you and four after, and I always worried you’d feel lost in the middle. But Judy, you were never overlooked. You were my steady one, my helper, the one who stayed close when I needed someone most. These last years we had together meant the world to me. Thank you for your care, your forgiveness, and for letting me be your mom again.
To my son, Roger:
You were my laughter, my joy, my surprise. You always loved to make me smile — and you had a thousand ways to do it, from your silly jokes to that spoonful of mustard you tricked me with. You filled my days with laughter and light, and even when life got heavy, you found a way to make it easier to bear.
I want you to know, Roger, I heard you. I felt your love in those words you shared — when you told me I was the best mom in the world. I knew you meant it, and it reached me deeper than you’ll ever know. You made me feel loved, appreciated, and proud beyond measure. You succeeded, my son. You brought me joy my whole life, and you let me leave this world knowing that I had done right by you.
To my son, Allen:
Named for my favorite uncle, you carried the name Claude, with strength and pride. You were my rock — someone I could depend on, someone who always protected and loved me fiercely. You gave me the greatest gift a mother could have — 11 beautiful grandchildren, each a piece of our legacy. You loved me with loyalty and I loved you with all my heart. You were my anchor, my steady hand, and I’ll always be with you.
To my daughter, Debbie:
My baby girl. You were my shadow, my prayer partner, my little heartbeat at home after the others had gone. I remember watching over you while you slept, praying for your life, your happiness, your strength. Even now, that hasn’t changed. I still hold you close in every breath of heaven. You’ve carried my heart so faithfully, and every time I crossed your mind, I felt it. You are my heart walking around on this earth.
To my baby, Ed:
My youngest, my son — you will always be my baby. I missed you more than words can say when we were apart, but I never stopped being proud of you. You’ve become such a strong man — a provider, a protector, and a quiet warrior for the people you love. I know you’ve carried your own battles quietly, but I saw them, and I admired your strength.
And I want you to know this, Ed — I knew you were trying to be there with me in those last hours. I heard you when you spoke to me on the phone. My heart did what my voice could not — it responded. I felt your love, and I want you to carry that truth with you always. You were there for me, son, and I knew it.
My love for you is endless, and I’m so proud of the man you are.
From Mom,
With Love.
