This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: BAKER, DEUEL, WILSON, DeWITT, BUTTON Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/nZB.2ACE/281 Message Board Post: The Hood River News, Hood River, OR., November 13, 1925, page 1 PIONEER MATRON IS CALLED BY DEATH Mrs. W.J. Baker, a pioneer matron of this valley, passed away at her home on State St., at 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, at the age of 67 years. Funeral services will be held this (Friday) morning at 10:30 at the Episcopal church, the Rev. Lindley H. Miller officiating, and interment will be in the family plot at Idlewilde, S.E. Bartmess having charge of the funeral arrangements. Born near Pittsburgh, Penna., Mrs. Baker spent her girlhood in the East. It was in 1883 that Mr. and Mrs. Baker arrived in this valley, and shortly afterwards they purchased property here, among their holdings being the ranch on Brookside Drive, on which, for many years they made their home. This orchard contained the first commercial plantings of Newton apples in that district, and when the trees came into bearing, Mr. and Mrs. Baker won many prizes with the fruit grown on this place. Later they came to town to live. Mrs. Baker who, through constant communion with books, was a remarkably well-read woman, was president of the Matrons’ Club of the Order of Eastern Star, and was an indefatigable worker in behalf of the Episcopal church. Children who survive are: Mrs. Glenn Deuel and W.J.H. Baker, of Los Angeles; Mrs. Burt Wilson, of Portland; and Mrs. Harry T. DeWitt and Mrs. Allyn Button, of Hood River. Mrs. Baker had been ailing for several months, but death came as she had wished, without pain or suffering of any kind. She was, in many respects, a remarkable woman and leaves a host of friends who regret her death. --------------------------- The Hood River Glacier, Hood River, OR., November 12, 1925, page 1 DEATH CALLED MRS. BAKER YESTERDAY Mrs. W.J. Baker, one of the valley’s most loved pioneer matrons, died at her home at 2:30 a.m. yesterday. Mrs. Baker, aged 67, was a native of Pennsylvania. The funeral services await advises from a son and daughter in Los Angeles. Services, however, will be held, it was stated, at the St. Mark’s Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Baker had long been an active member. Mrs. Baker is survived by her husband and the following children: Mrs. Glenn Deuer and W.J.A. Baker, of Los Angeles; Mrs. Burt Wilson, of Portland, and Mrs. Harry T. DeWitt and Mrs. Allyn Button, of Hood River. Mr. and Mrs. Baker came to Hood River before orcharding had been launched. Indeed, Mr. Baker and his wife, who for many years lived on a place on Brookside drive, planted this district’s first commercial orchard tracts of Newton apples. Their fruit, exhibited at various early day world’s fairs, brought the northwest its first fame as an apple producing center. Mrs. Baker was active in her church work and in the Eastern Star chapter here. She was president of the Past Matrons’ club of the order. News of her death brought general expressions of genuine grief. This was posted for reference only. I am not related to, nor am I researching this family. If you have additional information about the person or event listed above, please post it as reply to this message.