Vera Jean Baker, age 90, a longtime resident of northern Daviess County, passed away Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 3:00 a.m. at River Oaks Health Campus in Princeton, Indiana.
Vera Jean was born at home in Van Buren Township south of Raglesville, Indiana on her mother’s birthday, April 2, 1930. She was the daughter of Dennis C. and Susie A. (Stafford) Riggins.
She married LeRoy Baker August 23, 1958. She was the mother of three daughters, Marcia O’Nan, Marla Stevens, and Nelda Chestnut.
Following her graduation from Odon High School in 1948, Vera Jean attended nurse’s training and graduated from Indianapolis Methodist Hospital in 1951. She worked at Indianapolis Methodist Hospital and Putnam County Hospital and Daviess County Hospitals as a registered nurse for a total of 41 years. She retired from Daviess County Hospital on January 19, 1992 where she was the night shift nursing supervisor.
She married LeRoy Baker August 23, 1958. Vera Jean was the mother of three daughters, Marcia O’Nan, Marla Stevens, and Nelda Chestnut.
Vera Jean was a member of the Odon United Methodist Church and the Crusaders Sunday School Class. She was a past member of the Order of Eastern Star where she served as Worthy Matron by the side of her husband’s service as Worthy Patron. She shared LeRoy’s love of world-wide travel, camping, Bible Study, reading, journaling, and visiting with friends and relatives.
Vera Jean is survived by her daughters, Marla (Scott) Stevens, Brookville; Nelda (Terry) Chestnut, Princeton; 9 grandchildren, Megan (Trenity) Shaw, Bowling Green; Tiffany (Andrew) Hamm, Soaring Breezes, Kentucky; Tonya (Jim) Trackwell, Bowling Green; Ryan Weber, Bowling Green; Christina (Joshua) Harlan, Connersville; Reghan (Tyler) McCoskey, Greenwood; Nicholas (Emmalee) Stevens, Evansville; MacKenzie (Dustin) Miller-Kio, Evansville; Ashleigh (Dalton) Jones, Indianapolis; 15 great grandchildren, Kiersten, (Bloomington); Lynken, Traesa, Bowling Green; Trevor, Bloomington; Jayden, Kayla (Soaring Breezes, Kentucky), Jordyn, Bowling Green; Dalton, Bryar, Leighton, Connersville; Lochlan, Leah, Greenwood; Kaeson, Kenzi, and Dustin Jr., Evansville. She was preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy, daughter, Marcia, her parents, Susie and Dennis Riggins, brothers Vernon Riggins, Gerald Riggins, and a sister, Geneva Riggins.
A private memorial service will be held Friday, November 20, at 1:00 p.m.following visitation that begins at 11:00 until the hour of service at the Odon United Methodist Church. Pastor Debbie Payne will be officiating. Burial will be at the Raglesville Cemetery.
As per CDC guidelines, masks and social distancing will be required.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Odon United Methodist Church, 602 E. Elnora Street, Odon, Indiana 47562, or to your favorite charity.
Gill Funeral Home is honored to assist Vera Jean’s family with arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.gillsince1872.com.
