Doris Baker Deakins 1911-2002

DEAKINS MARLEY HIME

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/10/2010 at 22:55:55

Sioux City Journal
26 May 2002

BLENCOE, Iowa -- Doris Baker Deakins, 90, of Blencoe died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at a Sioux City nursing home following a lengthy illness due to a stroke suffered on Nov. 4, 1997. She lived at home with her son, Barney Baker, who provided total care for her until Feb. 20, 2002, when she entered the nursing home.

Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Pearson Funeral Chapel in Onawa, Iowa, with evangelist John Lizer officiating. Burial will be in Little Sioux Cemetery, Little Sioux, Iowa. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, with the family present, and a prayer service at 7 p.m., all at the funeral home.

Doris was born Dec. 30, 1911, along with her twin sister Dott, in rural Blencoe, the daughter of Ira and Margaret (Marley) Hime.

She married George Baker on Dec. 27, 1935, in Kansas City, Mo. To this union seven children were born. They lived and farmed in the Little Sioux area until George died on April 14, 1963. She later married Bennie Harding Deakins on June 20, 1967, at Onawa, Iowa. He died July 7, 1973.

Doris spent her whole life in the Little Sioux-Blencoe area. She was known by many as "Ma Baker" and "Grandma" to others. Doris' passion, caring and helping of others earned her "The Key To the City of Omaha" on two different occasions.

For more than 25 years, Doris went without and fought and worked very long and hard to provide a good education for her children. She worked at Christie Moss Home in Onawa and Turin, Iowa, Ray Mar Inn in Onawa, Thelma's Cafe and Marcie's Cafe in Mondamin, and Heiber Grocery Store in Blencoe, Iowa.

Doris loved reading, sewing, crocheting and needle work, along with her flowers, canning and gardening. She loved baking, cooking and having people over for dinner. She was a fabulous cook. She could cook a meal very quickly, and always had plenty. There always was room for one more at the table.

Survivors include four daughters, Myra Harris of Omaha, Neb., Emily and her husband, Alberto Blacut of San Francisco, Calif., Nancy and her husband, Roger Grandgenett of Blencoe, and Alice Fleming of San Diego, Calif.; two sons, Benjamin Baker of Washington, D.C., and Barney Baker of Blencoe; 13 grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.

She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Patsy Ann Baker; a granddaughter, Beth Grandgenett; three sisters, Helen South, Ruth Walker, and her twin sister, Dott Hime; two brothers, Milton and Sam Hime; and three sons-in-law, Ken Harris, Jack Fleming and Gus Blacut.

Pallbearers will be Eddie Beers, Pat Bohall, Mike Bohall, Craig Eskelsen, Donnie Phipps and Bill Wright.