“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad.” Psalm 118:24
Mary Elvira Baker, 92, of Oxnard, California, passed away on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at her home in hospice care. Mary was born in Los Angeles, California, to Salvador and Marina Ramos on July 2, 1929. She graduated from Ventura High School and later went on to earn an associates degree from Ventura College. Because of her mathematics skills, she first worked as a teller, then in a variety of capacities for Bank of America, at the Ventura branch on Main Street for several years. Upon marrying her husband, Russell Baker, she worked primarily as a homemaker and mother to her four children. She also worked part-time as church secretary for Oxnard Christian Church, and, in the last 20 years, had been an active member and office volunteer for Gold Coast Church. She and her husband and family attended church every Sunday; she was involved in Sunday School teaching, communion to the sick and home-bound, child care, and arranging refreshments after church. It was through church activities that she studied oil painting with Glenna Kurz, creating realistic still lifes and landscapes that have a gentle positive energy.
Mary had a profound faith and devotion to God that was manifested in her love for everyone, especially babies and children: first caring for her younger siblings, then her own children and the children at church. She worked to keep family together: she organized and hosted the members of the Ramos family (often 30-40 people) for the yearly Thanksgiving gathering until 2015; there was always an abundance of delicious food brought by generous relatives, as well as love and laughter and joy.
Mary was always sensitive to the difficulties of others: she was a good listener. And she taught her children to accept and love all people as children of God.
Mary is survived by Katherine Baker, daughter, of Simi Valley; Vernon Baker, son, of Marietta GA, and his wife, Kimberly; Stephen Baker, son, of Oxnard, and his wife, Susannah; Stuart Baker, son, of Oxnard, who resided with and cared for both parents since 2006. Surviving grandchildren and great grandchildren: Marina Aichele, and her husband, Eric, of Ft. Waynes, IN; Ian Baker, of Marietta, GA; Laura Smith and her husband, Ed, and their children Anna, Mina, Charles, and Evelyn, of Oklahoma City, OK; Jonathan Baker, and his wife, Helen, of Woodbine, MD; and Benjamin Baker, of Oxnard, CA. Two of her siblings also survive: Amado Ramos and Rachel Larralde. She is fondly remembered by numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by both parents, her husband Russell, and five of her brothers: William Ramos, Raul Ramos, Henry Ramos, Luis Ramos, and Charles Ramos. She is also preceded in death by her five Leiva cousins.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Ninos de Baja https://ninosdebaja.org/ or the Ventura County Rescue Mission https://vcresuemission.org or the Salvation Army https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Stuart Bloom, M.D., Mary and Russell’s primary care physician, for his decades-long excellent and caring service to our family; the many caring staff, nurses, and CNA’s at Glenwood Care Facility; and the South Valley Hospice team. We are also grateful for the friendship of Darlene Fisher, Martha Su Cvijanovich, and Donna Beeson; and to caregivers Lori Jacobsen, Julissa Nunez-Ruiz, Ebony Harris, and Brenda San Juan.
Friends and family are invited to Visiting Hours from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 757 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001. Funeral Services will be held in the Funeral Home Chapel at 11 a.m., officiated by Pastor Tim Kuns of Gold Coast Church. Interment will follow in Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, 5400 Valentine Rd., Ventura, CA 93003.