Evelyn M. Baker, age 97, of Macomb, Illinois, formerly of Plymouth and LaHarpe, Illinois, passed away at 1:33 a.m. Monday, April 18, 2022, surrounded by her family, at The Elms Rehabilitation Center in Macomb.

She was born July 14, 1924, in Downing, Missouri, the daughter of Samuel Ledford and Julia Ann Woods Miller. On April 17, 1947, she married Leslie L. Baker in Keokuk, Iowa. He preceded her in death on December 22, 1997.

Mrs. Baker was a 1941 graduate of Downing, Missouri High School. She then attended Northeast State Teachers College in Kirksville, Missouri. Prior to her marriage, she taught in a one room school in Missouri, where she was not only the teacher for grades 1 through 8, she also served as principal and janitor. Following her marriage, she farmed with her husband near Downing for ten years, before moving to the LaHarpe area, where she farmed and worked as a teachers aide for the Plymouth grade school. After her husband's retirement in 1977, she moved to Plymouth where she continued to work as a teacher's aide and also worked for the city of Plymouth. She was an active member of St. Mary's Baptist Church, and was a member of several community organizations. In 2017, she moved to Grand Prairie Assisted Living Center in Macomb, and later to the Elms Rehabilitation Center in the spring of 2021. The family wishes to extend their deepest thanks to the staffs of Grand Prairie Assisted Living and to the Elms Rehabilitation Center for their excellent care.

Survivors include two sons: Leslie (Phyllis Castillo) Baker of Ceres, CA, Gary (Annette) Baker of Lakemoor, IL, thirteen grandchildren, thirty great grandchildren, and thirteen great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, one son: Neal Lynn Baker, three brothers: Rufus, Olen, and Wayne Miller, and one sister: Kathryn Staub.

The family will receive friends Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. until Noon at St. Mary's Baptist Church followed by a funeral service at Noon. Burial will be in Rosemont Cemetery in Plymouth.

Memorials have been established for St. Mary's Baptist Church and Rosemont Cemetery. Banks & Beals Funeral Home of LaHarpe is assisting the family. Please visit banksandbeals.com to sign the guest book and leave a condolence.