Elizabeth Ann Baker remembered…
February 16, 1938 – January 5, 2010
Elizabeth, known to us as Liz, passed away after bravely fighting a deadly cancer for a year and a half. Liz was born February 16, 1938 in Minnesota to Marvin and Eunice Lueck. Her only sibling, Sharon, was born three years later. The family moved to California. The family life centered around their church and youth group. During her youth she loved to play tennis, bowl and swim.
In l961 she received her B.S. degree in Social Work from San Francisco State College. She had taken a year off from college to work and tour Europe for two months with a group of 13 bicyclists.
In 1963 she married Gerald Patterson and they had three children – Mike, Karen, and David Patterson. Eventually the couple divorced, and in 1986 she married J.L. Baker. Living in California, Liz went back to school and received her Masters degree in teaching. She taught Special Education until J.L. retired, after which they decided to move and reside in Gilpin County since they loved the area. In addition, her sister and husband and both of her sons live here.
Right away Liz got involved with Friends of the Library group in Gilpin, and volunteered with Ermil’s Thrift Shop in Central City. She loved to be around people and always had a big smile and warm greeting to everyone. Even her license read, “Neat day” and “Happiness is being a grandparent!” She was also active in the Rocky Mountain Evangelical Free Church in Black Hawk. Many of the Women’s Bible study meetings were held in her home. She attended most of the Senior’s events and loved using the Gilpin County Community Center’s recreation facility.
Liz loved the mountains and spent many hours outdoors. If anyone called, even at the last minute, she would drop everything to go for a quick walk. She enjoyed reading and crossword puzzles and was an excellent seamstress. She always kept family, friends, and bake sales in good supply of her home baked cookies and breads.
As her health was slowly getting worse, her deep faith and trust in the Lord was apparent. She began each morning saying, “This is the day that the Lord has made – I will rejoice and be glad in it!”
On January 5, 2010, surrounded by her loved ones, Liz peacefully passed into the hands of Lord.
Services were held Saturday, January 9th at the St. James Methodist church. She must have been smiling when she saw so many wonderful people there to celebrate her life.
Our family has been blessed to have Elizabeth in our lives and she will be greatly missed. J.L., her husband, sister Sharon (spouse-Eloy Perea), son Mike Patterson (spouse Pam and grandson Quinn), daughter Karen (spouse Bob Howes, grandchildren Kaylah, Ashley, Jessica, Zachary and Sean), son David Patterson, stepdaughter Barbara (spouse Tony Jorge, grandchildren Jonathan, Bethany and Sheena (spouse Ralph and great granddaughter Selvera).