Joan Ann Baker, age 90 and a lifelong resident of Elwood, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 4th, 2015 surrounded by her family at Community Parkview Care Center in Elwood after 6 months of declining health. She was born August 20, 1924 in Elwood, the daughter of Walter and Nora (Neal) Carr, and was the eighth of the nine "infamous" Carr kids of South D Street. She married John Wesley Baker on January 2, 1943. Joan attended St. Joseph School, and left school at the age of 16 for economic reasons to work at the laundry and the Ten Cent store. That prepared her for her most important role of keeping four kids and a husband clean and polished. Rumors are that John Baker was the only man at Continental Can with bleached and ironed jeans and T-shirts. She also formerly worked at Delco Remy in Anderson and Ex-Cello Corporation in Elwood. Joan formerly attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elwood. She enjoyed her beloved grandchildren; shopping; watching television;listening to music and was an avid photographer for her family. Joan especially enjoyed the Christmas holiday and beautifully gift-wrapping presents for her family. She leaves behind a legacy of family members who will miss her greatly.

Joan's surviving family includes 4 children, Connie Cole of Elwood, Tony (wife Patsy) Baker of Anderson, Andrea Baker of Indianapolis, and Timothy (wife Sophia) Baker of Davenport, FL; 5 granddaughters, Amy (Ty) Gregg, Carol (Paul) McDermott, Debbie (Doug) Round, Leigh Ann Zeis (companion Bob Schenck) and Alysia (Evan) Schmidt; 7 great-grandchildren; and 17 nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of nearly 35 years, John W. Baker who died in 1978; and 8 siblings, Ruby Mae Beher-Sturm, Jim Carr, Martha Trissel, Mike Carr, Helen Nowoshelski, Bernard Carr, Joseph Carr, and Thomas Carr.

A funeral service celebrating Joan's life will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 10, 2015 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood with Rev. Roger Gardner of East Main Street Christian Church officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Elwood. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5 to 8 PM on Thursday, July 9, 2015 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Joseph Catholic Church Building Fund. Online condolences and memories may be shared at copherfeslermay.com.