LUDLOW — Shirley May Wright Baker, 75, died Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 suddenly in her home, after having been ill for several years. A lifelong resident of Ludlow and the surrounding area, she attended schools in Springfield and Chester, and for the past 55 years of her married life she has lived in Ludlow.
She was the daughter of Edward J. Wright, Sr (Poppo) and Lauretta C Picard Wright (Memere) whom she missed and talked about everyday since their deaths in 1985. On June 22, 1963 she married Gordon W. Baker, Jr., the love of her life, who survives her. He has said ‘she was the best wife ever.’
She was a molder for Mack Molding Company for many years. She loved camping with her husband and family as a younger woman, gardening and canning the produce, fishing in Lake Champlain, snowmobiling and feeding the birds. She loved hummingbirds and kept various feeders around to watch the little critters, and she answered to the nickname “Squirrel.” Both grandchildren and others close to her called her Memere. She loved to knit and crochet, often donating things she had made to schools and hospitals in various local communities. She made afghans, and socks, slippers and mittens with funky hats to share with various family members who greatly treasured them. She loved to cook and everyone in the family waited with anticipation for her ‘crepe days’, a skill she learned from her mother. She and her brother, Dicky, when they once had a crepe cook off, loved to argue about the texture and consistency of each other’s crepes, a friendly rivalry that afforded the whole family much amusement. She enjoyed daily visits with her grand dog Willow, who always could bring a smile to her face and a twinkle to her eyes. Her greatest pleasure was her family.
She is survived her husband Gordon W. Baker, Jr., her daughter, Linda J. Connor, son-in-law Alex Connor, grandson Allen Connor, all of Ludlow, her son Michael G. Baker, his fiancee JanMarie Kenngott, of Baltimore, Vermont, grandson Michael Baker, Jr of Springfield, granddaughter Megan Baker of Springfield, step-granddaughter Tayllor Kenngott, step-daughter Sharon McGowan and her husband Patrick, and their three daughters, Kayla, Erin, and Shawna. Grandson David Baker and his wife, Kelly, and great-granddaughter Jade Baker. Brother Edward Wright, Jr and his wife Marleen of Chester, Vermont, brother Richard Wright and his wife Carolyn of Springfield, and many nieces, nephews and cousins, and her beloved cat, Shadow.
She was predeceased by her parents, step daughter Karen Baker, brother Armand (Johnny) Wright, Sr., brother Rene Wright and sister Hazel Coburn Wright.
Per her request there will be no calling hours, and a private graveside service is planned for the spring, with a celebration of her life to be planned at a later date. Donations in her name in lieu of flowers can be made to the Diabetes Association, the Springfield Humane Society or The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The family would like to thank the Ludlow Ambulance Crew and a special thank you to Patricia Brown, of the Ludlow Health Center for her care and friendship over the years.
“There are things that we don’t want to happen but have to accept, things we don’t want to know but have to learn, and people we can’t live without but have to let go.” – Author Unknown
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