Rosa Mae Jones Baker

Sunrise - March 4th, 1938 - Sunset - October 9th, 2023

Our loving daughter, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and caring friend, Rosa Mae Baker passed peacefully to her forever home at the age of 85 on Monday, October 9, 2023, in Tacoma, Washington.

On March 4, 1938, CL Jones and Amanda (Roberts) Jones became the proud parents of Miss Rosa Mae in Cedar Creek, Texas. Rosa Mae was the seventh child born of this union.

She was baptized at Mt. Olive Church in 1952. As a young person, she had a love of the outdoors which included playing baseball, and loved the sport throughout her life; treasuring time watching the Mariners with her children and grandchildren, often commenting that she was a better hitter.

Rosa Mae married Jim Lorance Baker in 1955 and would go on to build a family of four sons and a beloved only daughter. They would go on to dissolve their marriage in 1976 and Rosa Mae spent her life devoted to her Lord and Savior, motherhood and betterment for herself and her community.

She pursued her love of children and education by serving as an educator for 36 years, around Tacoma, as a paraeducator, teacher and even substituting well into her retirement. She instilled this love of learning in her children, attaining her GED, Associates and Bachelors degrees while her children, too, were in school. Her sons Jimmy, Wyatt, Leonardo, and Ken, and daughter Loretta would recall their summers at Central Washington University campus in Ellensburg, while she completed a Bachelors in Education. She would later attend Dr. A.L. Hardy Academy of Theology, furthering her walk in ministry.

Rosa Mae felt deeply about her church community, and her calling to share the Good Word.

A devout tither, she dedicated both her financial blessings and time to the Lord, writing letters and providing counsel to churchgoers and newcomers alike. She was an active member of the Voice of St. John Choir, the Junior Mothers and in various mission and ministry work throughout her life and into her later years. She attended and did missionary work through Pacific Christian Center as one of the Church Mothers.

Beyond her birth children, Rosa Mae was a beloved foster mother of 4, was Aunt Rosa to a host of nieces and nephews and her goddaughter April (Brooks) Richmond. As her family grew, she became Grandmama to ten and Great Grandmama to six great grandbabies.

Rosa Mae was preceded in death by her father and mother; brothers James DeShay, SC Jones, Emmanuel Jones; sisters Ora (Jones) Harris, Ola Jones, Florence (DeShay) Hygh ; former husband Jim Baker and great granddaughter Lyncoln Brown.

Our dearest Rosa, Mom, and Grandmama leaves us to cherish her life and legacy: her brother CL Jones Jr. and his wife Ruth; and sisters Lola (Monroe) Thorne, Eloise Jones Baker, and Joyce Jones. Her children, Jimmy Baker (Washington); Wyatt Baker (Idaho) his wife Venice and his children Josh Catron and his wife Chelsea (Colorado), Sara and her partner Christian (Washington), Taler (Georgia), Caleb and his partner Makaya (Idaho), and Makenna (Idaho); Loretta (Washington); Leonardo (Washington) his wife Traci and their children Trent (Thailand), Morgan (Virginia), and Aubrey (Tennessee); Kenneth (Washington) his wife Mary, and their children Kendra (Washington), Amanda and her husband Brandon Brown (Spain). She is also survived by five great grandbabies Luka and Leylah Brown, Bear and Calla Catron, and Ayana Baker.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in honor of Rosa Mae to your favorite breast cancer research organization.