Obituary of Phyllis L. Baker

Phyllis L. Baker, 92, of Lone Tree, passed away Thursday, April 28, 2016 at the Lone Tree Health Care Center. Memorial services will be 3 p.m., Thursday, May 5th at the United Presbyterian Church in Lone Tree where a visitation will precede the service from 1:30 until 3. Inurnment will follow at the Lone Tree Cemetery. Memorials in Phyllis’ memory may be direct to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Iowa City. Phyllis Lucille James was born June 9, 1923 in Muscatine, Iowa; daughter of Aaron and Rachel (Darr) James. She graduated from Muscatine High School in 1940 and on January 18, 1942 was united in marriage to Harry L. Baker in Muscatine. Together they farmed and raised their family near Lone Tree. Phyllis enjoyed her flower gardens, reading a good book and listening to music. She always had a soft spot for chocolate and of course, Hawkeye football! She and Harry lived on their farm until moving to Iowa City in 1991 and later would return to Lone Tree in 2008. Phyllis was a member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Iowa City as well as the Federated Women’s Club. Her family includes her children, Andrea Brenneman (Raymond) and Lowell Baker (Helen) of Lone Tree, Debra Barkey of Hurst, Texas and James Baker of North Liberty; six grandchildren, Karleen Knock (Jeff), Phillip Brenneman, Lucas Baker (Jennifer), Rachel Smithmier (Eric), Jill Barkey and Kate Tolmachoff (Michael); nine great-grandchildren, Avery, Alyssa and Adam Knock, Harry Brenneman, Dustyn and Max Baker and Ella Rose, Tyler and Jack Smithmier and her sister, Leola Askam of Muscatine. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Harry in 2009.