Wallee Baker

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Wallee Henry Baker, 80, formerly of Bell City, Mo., died May 25, 2003, at Memorial Hospital in Belleville.

Born Oct. 31, 1922, in Darling, Miss., daughter of the late George Howard and Carrie Travis Henry, she lived in Missouri for more than 76 years before moving to East St. Louis in 2002. She was a nurse aide at the Bell City Nursing Home before retiring. She was a member of Christ Sanctuary Church of God in Christ in Bell City, where she had held several positions, including assistant Sunday school superintendent and the Mothers' Board.

On Jan. 1, 1942, she married Walter Baker who preceded her in death.

Survivors include: two sons, Walter "Buck" Baker Jr. of Chicago, and David Baker of Bell City; four daughters, Genevie Jenkins and Poncetta D. Baker of Sikeston, Rosie "Mickey" Shirley of Chicago and Hattie Ward of East St. Louis; two brothers, George H. "June" Henry and William Henry of Bell City; three sisters, Ruth Williams of Bell City, Carrie Lee of Chicago and Bernice Campbell of Cape Girardeau; and 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

One sister, Annie Ward, also preceded her in death.

Visitation is from noon Saturday until service time at 2 p.m. at Christ Sanctuary Church of God in Christ. Elder David Pullen, pastor, and Elder Elisha Pullen will officiate.

Burial will follow in Pullen Memorial Garden Cemetery in Bell City.

Williams-Farr and Purnell Funeral Home of Sikeston is in charge of arrangements.