Elizabeth Ann (Mallard) Baker

Whitehall- On Wednesday, February 1, 2017, after 87 extraordinary years of life, Elizabeth Ann (Mallard) Baker passed away, just three weeks shy of her 88th birthday.  She is survived by her son Roy K. Baker III; daughter-in-law, Sandra Baker; grandchildren, Thomas K. Baker and Caitlin McNally, all of Whitehall; her sister-in-law, Luella Baker, of Stafford, Va.; John and Ann Keys, of Whitehall; Darlene Keys of Palmetto, Fla.; and many more extended family members and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Roy K. Baker Jr.; her three sisters and brother and brother-in-law, John E. Baker.

Bettie was born February 12, 1929, in Savannah Ga., the eldest child of William and Ann Mallard.  She grew up alongside her siblings, Nell, Margaret, Margie and her beloved Buddy; a group whose infectious laughter could not be contained or ignored.

Bettie spent her youth a champion of basketball, traveling throughout Georgia and the South with her team winning countless tournaments.

Bettie met her future husband while he was stationed at Hunter AFB in Georgia.  The two would marry and spend the next five decades together until his death in 2011.  After marrying, the couple moved to Roy’s hometown, Whitehall, N.Y., where they would raise their son, Roy III.

Never the traditional housewife, Bettie worked for over 20 years at Texgas in Whitehall, where anyone who entered the office was met with her radiant smile.  An avid bowler, Bettie traveled the area with her bowling league for many years.  In her retirement, she took up BINGO, spending hours each night down at the firehouse celebrating wins with her many friends, her fingers stained from the ink of her BINGO ‘dabbers.’  A towering and magnetic personality, Bettie struck up conversation with anyone and everyone. 

None of her many talents leave the lasting memory on her family as do her oil paintings.  After an art class proved her a natural, Bettie spent the next two decades on the porch of her and Roy’s Florida home looking out over the water, painting brilliant and inspiring landscapes.  After her sight failed her in later years, Bettie learned to knit using wool from her family’s sheep farm.  Along with her family, area cancer patients were the recipients of her unique hats and scarves.  Bettie was an unstoppable force of joy for those around her and the sound of her laughter filling the house will be deeply missed

At her request there will be no services.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Jillson Funeral Home Inc. 46 Williams Street, Whitehall, NY 12887.

 Service Information