Lillian Hope Baker, 94, of Ord passed away on Thursday, January 24, 2019, at her home in Ord.
Mrs. Baker’s wishes were to be cremated. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 1, 2019, at the First United Methodist Church in Ord. Pastor Stefanie Hayes will officiate. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Association or the Donor’s Choice. Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Lillian Hope was born on August 28, 1924, to Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred and Margaret (Park) Fleck.
Lillian lived in Petersburg Pennsylvania and belonged to the First United Methodist Church where she attended Sunday School, sang in the choir and played violin in the orchestra. During her school years she was active in music and drama. In the fall of 1941 she was accepted into Jefferson Medical College Hospital in Philadelphia. During her nursing education Lillian was active in the schools music department where she sang and played violin. She then joined the Arch Street Methodist church and was active in the youth group and sang in the choir. She graduated in June of 1945 from Jefferson Medical Hospital with an RN degree. Lillian then continued on as an employee of Jefferson Medical where she was a surgical nurse for several years and then did private duty nursing. During her time at Jefferson Medical she took care of J. Edgar Hoover and Judy Garland.
On August 10, 1957, she married George M. Baker. They moved to Kearney Nebraska that same year where George went to school. At this time Lillian worked at Good Samaritan Hospital where she started the first Post OP Intensive Care Unit. After two years they moved to Manhattan Kansas where George continued his schooling and Lillian worked at Riley County Hospital. She was active in the Vets Women’s Club and also worked in a dog grooming parlor.
In 1961, Lillian and George had a son, George Steffan Baker. He was born at Riley County hospital.
Upon George’s graduation in 1964 they moved back to Nebraska where George joined the Ord Animal Clinic and Lillian became a stay at home housewife. On occasion she would do private duty nursing. They joined the First United Methodist church in Ord where she became part of the United Methodist Women’s group and worked in Circle Two.
She taught Sunday school for 11 years and had charge of Bible school for three years. She also became an active citizen in the Ord community and Valley County. She participated in the Country Music Association, Ord Arts Council, was headquarters chairman for the Valley Co. Centennial Committee, served on the Committee for the American Lung Association, Nebraska Veterinary Auxiliary Association and worked at the Valley County Fair in the flower department. She took nine 4-H song groups to State Fair and received 8 purple ribbons. She was a member of the Arcadia Trail Dusters, Suburbanites and was a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts. She worked on the Red Cross Bloodmobile, was a member of the Valley Co. Historical Society and was active in the Valley Riders 4-H Horse Club. Lillian enjoyed canning, cooking and was known for her fresh baked bread.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. George Baker of Ord; her son and daughter-in-law , Steffan and Julie Baker of Ord; her four grandchildren, Erinn, Evan, Colin and Amanda; two great grandchildren, Tobias and Benedict, (Toby and Bene); two sisters, Lorna Patterson of Alexandria, PA and Winifred Nobles of Grovetown, GA; and a host of friends and relatives.
Lillian was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Carol Hope Baker; her parents, Margaret and Wilfred Fleck; a brother, Lt. Col. Raymond E. Fleck; and a sister and brother in law, Lois and Leon Davidson.
