Velma LaVerne Baker, 94, Hays, died Sunday, August 15, 2021, at Brookdale Hays.
She was born February 22, 1927, in Hays, the daughter of Theodore Harvey and Foila Bernice (Joy) Gosser. Velma was raised and educated in Ellis County and graduated from Hays High School in 1945. On March 3, 1946, she was united in marriage to Donald E. Baker in Hays. They celebrated 61 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on July 29, 2007. She was a lifetime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, and a member of the Buckeye Ladies Club and the Ellis County Historical Society. Velma was a housewife and for 28 years was a career Army wife, with her husband serving in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam conflict. Donald and Velma were stationed with their children in many different places around the world. She enjoyed genealogy scrapbooking, skydiving five times, and spending time with her grandchildren and family.
She is survived by three sons: Warren Baker and wife Barb of Nixa, MO, Stuart Baker and wife Janet of Highlandville, MO, and Jay Baker of Woodland Park, CO, three daughters: Holly Unrein and husband Glenn of Hays, Stacey Vonfeldt and husband Keith of Wichita, and Sybil Brauer and husband John of Republic, MO, two sisters: Alice Stramel and husband Jim of Hays and Bonnie Wyatt of Plainville, a brother: Allen Gosser and wife Donna of Codell, a sister-in-law: Eileen Helvey of WaKeeney, 14 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Donald, a daughter: Cheryl Crouch, two brothers: Arnold and Theodore Gosser, a brother-in-law: Clyde Wyatt, and two grandchildren: Pamela Clayman and Kirk Hagston.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at Trinity Lutheran Church, with Pastor Brenda Rodger officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Allen Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Friday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and from 9:00 am until 10:00 on Saturday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Ellis County Historical Society Building Fund. Condolences and memories of Velma may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com