Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, November l9, l903

FRANCIS MARION BAKER was born July l8, l847, in the State of Indiana, and went to Saline County, Nebraska about 3l years ago. He was married there July 7, l873, to JANE O'NEAL, and to them were born six children, three of whom survive. He was left a widower by the death of his first wife, l9 years ago, October l9, l884.

He was married to CLARA PETERSON, November 24, l887, while still living in Saline County, Nebraska, and to them were given four children, of whom three are now living.

He has lived in Decatur County, Iowa, since the fall of l895, with the exception of one year in Southern Kansas. In church membership he was identified with the L.D.S. Reorganization.

He was seized with illness about the 22nd of last September, but after a few weeks seemed to be in a fair way towards recovery when he suffered a relapse which terminated fatally at l2:30, Saturday, November 7. He was in a comatose state for about a week before he died, and passed away quietly and peacefully at the last, surrounded by all his immediate family who had done all that loving human hands could do by way of ministration and attention to soothe and ease his suffering and distress.

On Sunday, November 8, his many friends and neighbors gathered at the family residence to pay him the last tribute of respect, and to extend their sympathies to his mourning and bereaved wife and children. The services were conducted by Elder Duncan Campbell, the lesson was from Ecclesiastes l2, and the text from verse 7. The interment was at the Hamilton Cemetery where his ashes repose to await the resurrection of the just at the coming of our Lord. A large number of people were present to witness the putting away of the dust with its mother earth. And so another of our fellow citizens has passed on before as a witness to us that we are but mortal, and must sooner or later pass through a like experience.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
March 3l, 2003