(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)Toby Baker of Joplin, Missouri, passed away on September 1, at the age of 79, following a decline in health.
Born Shirley Lynn Tisdale in Joplin, Missouri, on September 28, 1943, to Neil and Shirley Tisdale, she was known by the name of Toby most of her life. Toby graduated from Arlington High School in Arlington, Texas, in 1961 and then went on to graduate from North Texas State University. She was both musical and athletic.
She taught physical education at North Garland High School in Garland, Texas, before returning to Joplin in the mid 1970’s. She was active in tennis tournaments in a Joplin tennis league and won numerous trophies. She was also an avid swimmer and diver.
A woman of faith, Toby was a longtime member of Blendville Christian Church, where she played piano and sang in the choir. She later was a member of College Heights Christian Church and also sang in the choir there. She and her husband, Richard “Dick”, served on the greeting team at both churches. Later in life, they became members of Park Plaza Christian Church.
Toby was a member of the Southwest Missouri Dental Auxiliary, helping to educate children about dental health through puppet shows. She worked as a homemaker, wife, and mother, and she also assisted with Dick’s orthodontic practice in Joplin. She later worked as a substitute teacher in Joplin.
Toby was married to Dr. Dick Baker for 45 years until Dick’s death in April 2022. She is survived by two sons, Randy Smith (Kellie) of Denison, Texas; Alan Smith (Jamie) of Joplin, Missouri; one daughter, Kibby Smith (Joe Scott) of Columbia, Missouri; one stepdaughter, Julie Jeszenszky (Chris) of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; four grandchildren: Daniel Simons; Zachary Smith; Caleb Smith; and Kate Jeszenszky; two great-grandsons, Braydon Hayward and Liam Simons; and three sisters, Terry Tisdale Gray (Greg) of Arlington, Texas; Tracey Tisdale Dunnam (James) of Austin, Texas; and Tammy Tisdale Schoff (Ken) of New Braunfels, Texas.
A woman of faith, Toby was a longtime member of Blendville Christian Church, where she played piano and sang in the choir. She later was a member of College Heights Christian Church and also sang in the choir there. She and her husband, Richard “Dick”, served on the greeting team at both churches. Later in life, they became members of Park Plaza Christian Church.
Toby was a member of the Southwest Missouri Dental Auxiliary, helping to educate children about dental health through puppet shows. She worked as a homemaker, wife, and mother, and she also assisted with Dick’s orthodontic practice in Joplin. She later worked as a substitute teacher in Joplin.
Toby was married to Dr. Dick Baker for 45 years until Dick’s death in April 2022. She is survived by two sons, Randy Smith (Kellie) of Denison, Texas; Alan Smith (Jamie) of Joplin, Missouri; one daughter, Kibby Smith (Joe Scott) of Columbia, Missouri; one stepdaughter, Julie Jeszenszky (Chris) of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; four grandchildren: Daniel Simons; Zachary Smith; Caleb Smith; and Kate Jeszenszky; two great-grandsons, Braydon Hayward and Liam Simons; and three sisters, Terry Tisdale Gray (Greg) of Arlington, Texas; Tracey Tisdale Dunnam (James) of Austin, Texas; and Tammy Tisdale Schoff (Ken) of New Braunfels, Texas.
Toby was preceded in death by her parents, Neil and Shirley Tisdale; her brother, Tim Tisdale; and her husband, Dick Baker.
Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to the Mason-Woodard Mortuary and Crematory of Joplin, Missouri. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, September 23, 2023 at the Mason-Woodard Chapel with burial of cremains to follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will precede the service at 9:00 am at the Chapel.
Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to the Mason-Woodard Mortuary and Crematory of Joplin, Missouri. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, September 23, 2023 at the Mason-Woodard Chapel with burial of cremains to follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will precede the service at 9:00 am at the Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to the Joplin Humane Society, God’s Resort, or Park Plaza Christian Church in care of Mason Woodard Mortuary. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mason-Woodard Mortuary and Crematory of Joplin, Mo.
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