Pat Baker

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Patricia Lou Edwards-Baker, 85, of Oswego, Kansas passed away peacefully at her home, September 17, 2024, after a lengthy illness. She was surrounded by family.

Pat was born to Harold G. Edwards and June D. Messer-Edwards on February 3, 1939. This happy event happened at the home of her Granny in Galena, Kansas.

She attended Union Chapel and Liberty Schools as a child, and then Riverton and Galena High Schools, and was part of the class of 1957.

At age 17, she started a twenty-year career with Holiday Inn. This career began at the Mickey Mantle’s Holiday Inn in Joplin, Missouri. Through the years, Pat worked her way up and became the Catering Manager for Holiday Inn North in Sacramento, California. She then was promoted to Assistant Inn Keeper, and was eventually offered her own Innkeeping position.

It was in Sacramento, that she met and married the love of her life, Milton M. Baker. They spent the next 40 years pastoring churches in Miami and Tampa, Florida, Stockton, California, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. During that time, Pat led the Women of Excellence Ladies Group, was Minister of Music, and directed choirs, special groups, and the church orchestra.

She worked alongside her husband in establishing Faith Christian School, where a daughter and grandson attended, and two other daughters taught and ran the office.

The Bakers continued pastoring and ministering on Radio and Television until the mid-2000’s. When Milton passed away in 2012, Pat then moved back to Kansas to be near her siblings and live out her days. She spent the last 10 years of her life attending First Baptist Church and The Church, playing piano for both, and helping to reorganize the Community Choir.

Pat joined the Oswego Ministerial Alliance and led the yearly Community Holiday Dinner and chicken dinners in support of Oswego High School graduates.

Patricia was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers Robert D. Edwards, and David L. Edwards.

Survivors include: sister Janice Kirk (Lyn) of Oswego, sister-in-law Carolyn Edwards of Oswego; daughters Pamela Fricker of Oswego, Vicki Hartquist of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Angela Ellzey (Nate) of Perryton, Texas; stepdaughter Teri Collins of Stockbridge, Georgia, stepson Bill Melton of Emory, Texas; 10 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; nieces, and many other loved ones.

Services will be held at First Baptist Church in Oswego, with Pastor Jim Irwin officiating, on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be held Friday, September 20, 2024, at First Baptist Church from 5:00-7:00 PM. Burial will take place at Moore Cemetery, Moore, Oklahoma at 1:00 PM, Monday, September 23, 2024.

Arrangements are under the direction of Derfelt Funeral Home.