Obituary of Lela Gertru Baker

Lela Gertru Baker died September 4, 2015 at the age of 94. She was born Lela Gertru Northcutt on February 23, 1921 as the daughter of William Sherman Northcutt and Pearl Newton Bradford-Northcutt, Lydia, Texas. She is survived by her husband Carl Gene Baker, children Arelus Hopper of DeKalb, Larry Hopper of Lone Star, Dwight Hopper of Dalby Springs, Mike Baker of Longview, Sheila Jackson of Avery, and Kenny Baker of Avery. Mrs. Baker had six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Country living and Depression times around Lydia and “Sugar Hill” shaped a hard-working resourceful young lady. Gertru married James Loyle “Dee” Hopper and lived near Lydia. They had four children, James Arelus, Charles Larry, Dwight Dee, and Sheila Beth. The family moved to Avery where she was known for her beautiful flower and vegetable gardens. She became an accomplished self-taught seamstress and made dresses for Sheila in Avery Frontier Days. Gertru also worked for Lone Star Ammunition Depot. In 1969 she married Carl Gene Baker of Fulbright, Texas and moved there to start a blended family to finish raising their four youngest children. Her famous “green thumb” went with her, and she soon had the same beautiful roses, flowers, and large gardens. Her country skills made possible the growing of an unbelievable diversity of vegetables, fruits, chickens, hogs, and cows. She also loved to hunt and fish. All of this supplied her most famous skill as a cook. Gertru fed the large family and anyone who visited, the larger the quantity the better it tasted. Many relatives and friends have memories of sitting down to her table full of fresh vegetables, cornbread with a “crack”, wild game of all kinds, and plenty of gravy to sop. Everyone felt at home at her table. She was a member of Fulbright Baptist Church and also attended Lone Star Methodist Church. Gertru and Gene spent several years at Pat Mayes Lake serving as camp hosts and making visitors feel welcome. In 2007 they retired back to their home in Fulbright to continue gardening. Then in 2011 Mrs. Baker suffered a debilitating stroke and remained bedridden. She had been in Regency Health in Clarksville since 2014. Her life was long and fruitful, full of hard work and giving to others. The family will receive friends one hour before service time at Clarksville Funeral Home. Funeral services are set for 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 8, 2015, in Lindeman Chapel of Clarksville Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Bethel Cemetery under the direction of Clarksville Funeral Home.