Ada Alice (Archer) Baker

Ada Alice (Archer) Baker, age 81, entered the gates of Heaven on Sunday, January 19, 2020. Her family rejoices and celebrates her life and homegoing. She was born on June 12, 1938, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Marjorie (Hester) Meacham and Leroy Archer. She was the widow of Duane Baker who preceded her in death in November 2002. They married on June 2, 1960 and shared 42 years together. She is also preceded in death by five sisters, Martha, Lavona, Juanita, Florence and Oleta; and three brothers, Glen, Loyd and Dale. Ada was a full time and involved mother to three children and cherished "Nana" to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was her husband's partner in all their business endeavors including Baker Water Well and Natural Gas Drilling Company, Baker's Dairy Diner, White's General Store, West Fork Gas Station, West Fork Auto Parts and Carter Tire and Auto. They also raised cattle and turkey on the family farm in Woolsey. They invested in several rental properties and she managed those as well. Aside from being a mom and running our household, she was secretary, tax preparer, errand girl, bill payer and chauffeur for our father to many work sites in rural areas. She packed daily lunches and always a large thermos of coffee for Duane over the years with a homecooked meal on the table each night. Ada was saved and baptized as a Christian in the West Fork Baptist Church as an adult and enjoyed her church family. Her passion for gardening and vegetable growing showed all around her flower filled yard. Ada was an Elvis Presley fan, loved country music and supported and cheered for the Razorbacks every season. She enjoyed the greyhound races, sewing, canning and many pets over the years. She loved attending estate auctions, frequenting flea markets and antique shops. She had an eye for collecting beautiful things and loved decorating her home. Ada and Duane loved to travel and visited many places including Niagra Falls, the Grand Canyon, the Elvis Mansion in Memphis and Pearl Harbor. Each summer she planned a trip for the entire family to Branson. She took the family to Disney World, Six Flags, Silver Dollar City, Worlds of Fun and Magic Springs. Ada was generous and compassionate especially to those in need and always stood up for the underdog. She was soft spoken, graceful, kind, giving and loved her family. After moving to Fayetteville in her later years, she grew very fond of "her" ducks and geese that lived in the large pond in the neighborhood behind her home. She fed them and watched their babies grow and leave each season. She always looked for them with a "head count" every day right up until her last days. She is survived by her three children, Tonja Carter and husband Neal of Fayetteville, DeeVonna Osnes of West Fork, and Cleet Baker of West Fork; two sisters, Beth McNair and Joyce Griggs; five grandchildren, Adam Carter, Noah Carter, Shambrey Walker, Austin Osnes and Reese Bragg; and five great-grandchildren, Ellie Carter, Elissa Carter, Axel Carter, Arlynd Walker and Lochlan Walker. The love, prayers and thoughts you have wrapped around our family has given us strength and comfort. We cannot begin to express our sincere appreciation for each of you. A private family graveside service in Ada's honor will be held and she will be laid to rest next to our father in West Fork Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America at https://alzfdn.org/ or the Dementia Society of America at https://www.dementiasociety.org/ Correspondence cards may be sent to Tonja Carter, c/o Ada Baker, P.O. Box 9300, Fayetteville, Ark. 72703. To place an online tribute, visit www.nelsonberna.com.