Mary Ann Baker, 73, of Austin, Texas passed away on March 5 after a brief illness. Mary Ann was born in Edmund, Oklahoma and graduated as the valedictorian of her high school class. She moved to Houston, Texas where she graduated from Rice University in 1972 with BAs in English and French.
In 1973 she met and married George W. Baker. Mary Ann worked until her daughters were born and then stayed home to raise them. She was the leader of their Girl Scout troops, coach of their soccer teams, soccer referee and president of the Spring Youth Soccer league.
In 1998 she started her teaching career, teaching Middle School in the Aldine Independent School District until 2004 when she relocated to Austin and joined the faculty of Akins High School from where she retired in 2016.
After retiring she soon began volunteering. At the Lady Bird Wildflower Center she was a docent, escorting visitors and telling them about all the native flowers and plants at the center, and recently she became one of the few volunteers to amass over 3000 hours. As a member of the Austin Retired Teachers Association she served as their technology expert and Treasurer. Mary Ann was also a member of Capital Area Master Naturalist. Mary Ann and George attended St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Austin where she sang in the choir and was the acolyte master.
Mary Ann is survived by her husband of 50 years, George W. Baker and their daughters Elizabeth Baker and her husband Eric Richards, and Susan Akers and her husband Cade; her six grandchildren Peter, Ezekiel, Cecilia, Emma Lia and Amelia. She is also survived by her brothers Harry and Robert Manning and sisters Jeanette Burroughs and Lucy Middlebrook.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at noon at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Austin, TX. In lieu of flowers please send donations to either St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church or Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.