Betty Merle (Starley) Baker

Betty Baker was born to Silas and Mary Starley on June 18, 1928 in Ft Sumner, NM. She passed after a short illness on April 10 th, 2024, surrounded by family and loved ones. She is preceded in death by her parents, three infant siblings, first and second husband, grandson David Silas Swift, and stepdaughter Lee Adell Korn. She is survived by her son William Robert Van Huss III, wife Louise Van Huss; daughter Mary Lena Swift, husband Rick Swift; stepson Bradley Baker; daughter-in-law Janetta Baker; grandchildren William Van Huss IV; JT Van Huss; Alanna McDuff, husband Jonny McDuff; Debbie Baker; James Baker, wife Elsa Baker; Charlie Baker wife Cora Baker; Morgan Korn, wife Kim Korn; and Preston Korn, wife Mailynn Korn. She is also survived by her great Grand Children Alexis B.; Brody Van Huss; Jeremiah, Abigail, Hannah, and Chloe Mc Duff; Robert and Ryan Baker, Sarah and Joey Baker; Josh, and Amanda,Korn; David, Daniel and Jonathan Korn.

Betty grew up in Santa Rosa, NM, where she played the flute in band and was the Drum Majorette for the Santa Rosa Lions marching band. Betty had a great love for music and continued to love music through playing the piano for most of her life. She graduated from Santa Rosa High as valedictorian in 1946.

She married William Robert Van Huss Jr. on June 19, 1946. Betty attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM, where she graduated with honors in education. Betty taught school in Aztec, NM. She went on to get her librarian certificate and became the librarian at the public school in Dulce, NM. After her divorce in 1968, she relocated to Santa Rosa to help her mother run the "Rancho Motor Lodge." She was the school librarian there until her retirement in 1976.

She married Odell Baker in 1971, and after retirement moved to Quay, NM and learned to paint. She loved sewing and was a talented seamstress; enjoying making dresses and pant suits. She enjoyed cooking, canning, and after moving to Sawyer, Oklahoma, she developed a talent for working with stained glass, making beautiful household items to bring charm to the family home. She also worked with ceramics, beaded jewelry, counted cross stitch, and other needle work. In 1989, she moved to Mesquite, TX, where she lived until moving to Los Lunas, NM in 2016 to be closer to immediate family.

The most important thing to Betty was her faith in Christ Jesus. No matter where she lived, she sought out a body of Christ-followers and served the Lord Jesus Christ in any capacity she could: playing the piano for worship services, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school, teaching VBS, working as church librarian, and prayer warrior. Betty would start every day by reading her Bible, praying, and a cup of coffee.

Her final years were lived at the Center for Ageless Living in Los Lunas, where she left this world to spend eternity with Jesus, and believing family who passed before her.

 

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