Looking back on Carol's life it is not any extravagant or global contribution for which we wish to honor her, but the everyday sacrifices and commitments to her family that makes her unique. She is our role model for mothering as well as the single most extraordinary example of giving and caring for all people that we have ever known. Her legacy is not only in the beautiful hand-crafted quilts, toys and many gifts she has made for her children and grandchildren, but in the values she has bestowed upon her children: family,
independence, selflessness, strength, generosity, acceptance of others, honesty, and love for all people.
Her name is Carol Lynne Banks Baker, born an only child on December 9, 1941. Her parents were Ted and Evelyn Banks of Ames. Carol has lived her entire life in Ames and the surrounding area. She had three children by her first marriage and has "adopted' six children belonging to her husband, Harlan K Baker. She has since become "mother-in-law" to their spouses and "grandma" to their children.
When her first marriage failed Carol
sacrificed everything to provide her children a loving and stable home as a single, full-time working mother. She is a proud, independent woman who would not accept charity or assistance, though her family went through difficult times. She rose to the challenge of raising three young children on her own with grace and complete competence. Carol was never one to complain or worry aloud about money or time for herself. Instead she made the time to teach her children her many gifts and talents. She instructed Rochelle in sewing,
taught Renee to do the two-step, and nurtured in Rusty a love and talent for cooking. She created elaborate and original Halloween costumes and May Baskets and could turn her home into a twinkling wonderland at Christmas. She spent hours decorating Easter eggs and homemade Christmas cookies with her children. Living in her house taught the importance of family, community, and fellowship.
In 1975, Carol began a long and rewarding career at Iowa State University as the Office Coordinator for the Engineering Extension
Service, where she assisted the Director of Engineering Extension. A highlight of her tenure here was serving as personal secretary to Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia during his attendance of the Ice Berg Conference in 1977. Her abilities to plan and coordinate each and every last detail of these large conferences were impressive. After leaving ISU, she formed her own business, Newsletters, Etc., taking a major client with her, The Society of Land Surveyors of Iowa, whom she served for 20 years.
In 1980 she married Harlan K Baker, an
engineer and professor at ISU. K was a widower with six grown children. Bringing this large and complex family together was an ambitious challenge not easily welcomed by every member, but something Carol would make her single most important labor. Her family was always her first priority and now K's children would witness her dedication and sacrifice as she came to love and accept them along with their spouses and children with absolutely no reservations. Every child, grandchild, daughter/son-in-law was not only welcomed
in their new life together but desired. She brought us together again and again, melting away any doubts our hearts may have held about merging two families.
For the infinite ways she has touched each of our lives, for the people she has helped us to become, for the way she has prompted us to see the world and each other, we are eternally thankful. For her compassion and dedication to this family, for her acceptance and love for all of us, we, the children of K and Carol, dedicate this memorial to Carol Lynne Banks Baker.
Her Children,
Renee’ Amundson Fremgen
Russell Amundson
Rochelle Amundson Harris
Shanaz Baker Vollmer
Deborah Baker Davis
Karen Baker Ross
Charles Baker
Sean Baker
Robert Baker 10/15/94 |
