Lois Evelyn Collier Baker, of Ellicott City, died July 21, 2008, at her residence. She was 91.

She was born June 16, 1917, in Martinsville, Ill., to George Washington Collier and Melissa Caroline McCarty.

She married Franklin D. Baker in 1938.

Mrs. Baker and her husband became residents of Mt. Hebron Farm, formerly called Hebron, in the 1940s. They lived in the Historic Hebron House on the farm until 1956, when they built another house on the farm, where she was still a resident at the time of her death.

She spent her time as a homemaker.

Mrs. Baker served as past worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, in Ellicott City, in 1946. She was an American Red Cross volunteer for three years, beginning in 1943. In addition, she was a member of the Patapsco Grange, the Ellicott City Lions Club Women's Auxiliary, Mt. Hebron Improvement Association, Mt. Hebron Homemakers Club and a PTA Volunteer for Ellicott City Junior High and St. John's Lane Elementary, as well as other schools in Ellicott City. She also contributed monetary donations to the Howard County General Hospital Foundation.

Family members recall that Mrs. Baker was a founding charter member of Mt. Hebron Presbyterian Church, in Ellicott City, and enjoyed attending Sunday services. She also was a member of the Rockland United Brethren Church, now called Rockland United Methodist, where she taught Sunday school, Bible school and youth choir, as well as baked pumpkin pies and angel food cakes for church fairs.

Family members recall that Mrs. Baker composed religious music, and wrote poetry for her friends, family and the church.

She is remembered as a farmer's wife, who prepared home-cooked weekly meals with hot biscuits, baked pies, cakes and cookies for family and friends and enjoyed sewing clothing for her daughters, as well as making curtains and quilting for her church circle.

Mrs. Baker was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, Franklin D. Baker, who died in 2006; a daughter, Judy Lynn Baker; five brothers, Jesse Allen Collier, Charles Morton Collier, Raymond Barnet Collier, George Eugene Collier and Harry Woodrow Collier; and three sisters, Nellie May Collier, Wilma Dean Collier and Carrie Alice Collier Neeley.

She is survived by a daughter, Callie Baker Peddicord, of Ellicott City; a grandson, Gregory Duff, and his wife, Catherine "Chatty" Peddicord, of Ellicott City; a great-grandchild, Meadow Claire Peddicord, of Ellicott City; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held July 24, 2008, at Mt. Hebron Presbyterian Church, in Ellicott City.

Interment followed at Good Shepherd Cemetery, in Ellicott City.

Memorial donations may be made to Gilchrist Hospice, 5537 Twin Knolls Road, Suite 433, Columbia, MD 21045.

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