Beverly Ann Marion Baker 1939 - 2018

BAKER, MARION, HAYES

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/21/2018 at 17:20:30

Sioux City Journal
19 January 2018

Sioux City

Beverly Ann Baker of Sioux City, departed this life on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, in Sioux City.

Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Burial will be in Logan Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 10 a.m. until service time Monday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be given at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Beverly Ann Marion Baker was born in Omaha, on Sept. 12, 1939, to the union of Robert E. Marion and Lillian E.Hayes. She was raised by her legal guardian and sister, Elizabeth Kenner, and her father, Sidney Birch. Beverly was educated in the Sioux City public school system. She graduated from Central High School and later from Western Iowa Tech Community College as a dental assistant.

In 1967, she was employed by St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and was on the job trained as a surgical technician with expertise in the head, neck, and maxillofacial dental surgeries. She became involved in establishing the first Surgical Technology Chapter in the Sioux City area, serving in various office over the years.

In 1972, she was employed as a National Certified Surgical Technologist by Western Iowa Tech Community College, where she founded and implemented Sioux City's first state approved curriculum for surgical technology. She continued her advanced education at Wayne State and Iowa State Universities. She became Iowa State licensed in the field of surgical technology and was then the program director/instructor at Western Iowa Tech Community College.

A lifelong Christian, Beverly was baptized at the age of nine at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. As an adult, she wanted to be more involved in church ministry and was accepted by faith at Whitfield United Methodist Church, where she served in many capacities. Retiring from Western Iowa Tech Community College after 25 years of service, Beverly entered the Morningside College School of Lay Ministry in 2006, graduating in 2009 as a lay missioner. She also attended Crescent Park United Methodist Church.

Survivors celebrating her life are her son, Roderick Lightner and his wife, Brenda; her granddaughters, Sydney and Jordan; a very special cousin, Bill Jones; and friends are too numerous to count and each too special to try to prioritize.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister; brothers; a favorite aunt; nieces, and nephews; and a special companion, Hyim Ward.