Melba A. Baker

Melba A. Baker

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Melba Baker on May 13th after a brief illness. She passed peacefully at her home surrounded by loved ones. We wish to thank all of the wonderful Aultman hospital ER staff as well as the doctors and nurses at University Hospital. Extra special thanks to the Aultman hospice nurses and aides for their loving care every day and night. Taking care of Melba the last two weeks was stressful, but everyone played a valuable part. The home team was fortunate to have true health care professionals on hand. Thank you, Leigh Ann, Anna, Marissa and, of course, Cindy. Your around the clock compassionate, loving care will never be forgotten.

Melba is preceded in death by Charles, her husband of 62 years. Her parents Lloyd and LaVonne Steinbach. Her brother Lloyd Steinbach, Jr. A nephew Steve Steinbach. An infant son John Baker, and a daughter in law Mary Baker.

Melba is survived by children and spouses Cynthia Baker; Mark and Elizabeth Baker; Brian and Leigh Ann Baker. Kevin Baker (Mary); and Lisa and Lance Stranger.

Melba is also survived by grandchildren Kyle Baker and his friend Kaitlyn Cates; Cassie and Phil Fenstemaker; Marissa Baker and her fiancé Tanner Boston (Mark and Liz); Austin Baker and Anna Baker (Brian and Leigh Anne). And stepdaughters Brittney Sedlock and Stephanie Fryfogle (Kevin and Mary).

It is hard to imagine no more visits to grandma and her magnificent house to do laundry and watch classic movies on DVD-The Greatest Show on Earth was her childhood favorite. It is difficult to think of no more face-to-face lunches at Varieties eating frittatas. There won’t be any more chats at her kitchen table over diet Dr. Peppers and oven warmed Pizza Oven pizza, followed by Keurig coffee made with spring water because the hard Canton city water ruined the machine. No more drives in her red PT Cruiser where Raul Malo’s singing was the only musical accompaniment—and who else would you be listening to? And no more of his concerts with that voice and that horn section. Someday we will still say to each other “are the rules of physics different on your stove” but it won’t be as funny. And all of this was done while nattily attired year-round in one of her two dozen pair of Birkenstocks, although the socks she paired with them in winter might belie the claim. When sockless, her toenails were often painted burgundy, the same color she sported when she left us.

The trips to Columbus for Thanksgiving will be hollow, as will the time around the fire pit or the ice cream runs to Graeter’s. There won’t be any more of those perfect birthday cards arriving exactly on the right day with exactly the right sentiments inside. There is no need for a daily 10:30AM phone call now. Life without Melba is going to be difficult, something like life at Downton Abbey without Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham. Never again will we say, “I have to ask mom” or “I have to see what mom thinks about that.” Instead, they will be replaced with “I wonder what mom would have thought” or “Mom would have known what to do.” And we will never hear her reply to every request no matter who it was from or what it was for: “as you wish.”

Melba was staunch, unwavering, indomitable, cantankerous, to the point. Pick your adjective. She didn’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blew. She knew things and she knew how they worked. And she knew a fool when she saw one. And the fool talking to her, knew that she knew. Sadly, there were more and more of them. Accordingly, she worried about the world her grandchildren would grow up in. She was hard to read, but she didn’t want to be read. She was like a line in a Bob Dylan song or a verse in a Joni Mitchell song that doesn’t quite make exact sense to you, but you know that it is true and honest, and perfectly describes an entire life and embodies a complete world and worldview. And perhaps, someday, with enough time and enough life experiences, you might come to understand it better.

Melba’s greatest pride is her five surviving children. And with her five grandchildren they all combine to form a beautiful, glorious, sparkling legacy like the stars in the night sky or the rainbow of colors on the fall trees. The children and grandchildren show great sparks of joy, love, hope, civility, beauty, passion, mercy, wisdom, decency, forgiveness, generosity, gratefulness, and imagination that takes my breath away. That did not just happen. It could never just happen. And that is her and Chuck’s incredible gift. From them both came rivers of love that could not be held back or hidden. Like those countless stars in the night sky that can't be seen in the day, or the beautiful fall colors in the leaves that are always there but masked, that love was always there. And that love will always be there and will continue to grow and flourish. Melba's signature response to any query or request from any child or grandchildren was always "as you wish." But when Melba said, “as you wish” we all knew what she really meant was “I love you.” And we love you. And we know that finally your accommodations are exactly and perfectly and peacefully "as you wish".

Condolences may be left at: www.gordonfuneralhomes.com

Gordon (330) 456-4766