JoAnn (Denman) Baker

JoAnn Baker, longtime resident of Lindsay, Oklahoma, passed from this life to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 3, 2025. She was born to Orvel and Mable Denman on October 29, 1931, near Purcell, Oklahoma, and grew up in that rural community. At an early age, JoAnn was taken to a small country church and studied the stories of Jesus from small cards with favorite pictures of Jesus as He went about doing His work. Later, her Mother and Dad began attending church and her Dad began leading the song service for the church. JoAnn loved to pretend playing the piano and started piano lessons with a teacher in the community. She began playing for the song service at an early age, even though she was limited in her hymn selection. At the age of ten, JoAnn was at a revival service when she felt the Holy Spirit tugging at her heart and she went to the front to surrender to Jesus. At the altar, JoAnn met her mother, father, and older sister, and together they joined hands and surrendered to Jesus. It was a glorious night. JoAnn continued with piano and became pianist for the church. JoAnn graduated from Wayne High School in 1948, and for the summer months assumed a position as secretary with an Attorney-At-Law in Purcell, Oklahoma. She attended OCW (Oklahoma College for Women) in Chickasha, Oklahoma, for one year, then returned to her secretarial position for another year. JoAnn was married to Reso Baker, on March 10, 1950, and moved to Payne, Oklahoma, where their three sons were born. She served as pianist at Payne Church until they moved to Lindsay, Oklahoma. At First Baptist Church in Lindsay, JoAnn served as leader of the young girls’ missionary auxiliary and pianist for the youth choir. She was also assistant church organist. In 1972, JoAnn became pianist of Calvary Baptist Church in Lindsay, and in 1975, she was selected as organist for the church, where she remained until 2014. JoAnn was also pianist for a men’s quartet. In 1961, JoAnn enrolled at Oklahoma University. In 1965, she graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. JoAnn opened a piano studio and concentrated on private lessons. In 1973, she enrolled again at Oklahoma University for two semesters, and she studied Piano and Piano Pedagogy with Dr. Clarence Burg. In 1970, JoAnn began teaching in Lindsay Public Schools as Elementary Music teacher. Working with younger children was her passion. JoAnn loved interacting with the children and spent hours writing parts for their music programs that were presented. In 1980, JoAnn requested a leave of absence from Lindsay school, to teach at Chickasha school for five years. In 1991, JoAnn returned to Lindsay as the Elementary Music teacher until 1997, when she retired. JoAnn, along with her husband Reso, was a member of a musical group who entertained at nursing homes in Lindsay, Pauls Valley, Lexington, and Purcell, Oklahoma. She played the keyboard and was a vocalist for the group, and Reso played the fiddle. JoAnn was affiliated with the Lindsay Philharmonic Society, National Guild of Piano Teachers, and Oklahoma Music Teachers Association. Other hobbies and interests of JoAnn’s life were sewing and flower gardening. She was a member of the Payne Home Demonstration Club and entered her work in local fairs. JoAnn is survived by her children, Rick and Pam Baker, Doug and Billie Baker, daughter-in-law, NaDonna Tibbits, her grandchildren, Pete Baker and wife Angela, Nicki Dewoody and husband Lynn, Tarren Baker and wife Chelsea, Jesse Romine and husband Gregg, and great-grandchildren, Makayla Huff, Layla Baker, Braeden Baker, Kenzie Baker, Lexi Jo Romine, Molly Romine, Lydia Dewoody, Charlie Dewoody, and Bennett Baker. JoAnn is preceded in death by her husband, Reso Baker, her son, Joe Baker, her grandson, Royce Baker, her parents, Orvel Denman and Mable Denman, and her sisters, Imogene Wolfe and Marjorie Payne. A funeral service to honor JoAnn’s life is set to be held on Friday, February 7, 2025, at 2:00 P.M., at Calvary Baptist Church in Lindsay, Oklahoma. Following the service, she will be laid to her final rest at Greenhill Cemetery in Lindsay, Oklahoma. Services are under the direction of Scott and Angel Wilbourn of Wilbourn Family Funeral Home in Lindsay, Oklahoma. Condolences may be made online at www.wilbournfamilyfuneralhome.com

JoAnn (Denman) Baker

October 29, 1931 - February 3, 2025

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