Frances Kay Baker (Kay) of Durango, CO was born in Muleshoe, TX on November 22, 1938 to Margaret and Arthur “Bits” Holt. The Holt family moved to Durango when Kay was 8 years old and she attended and graduated from Durango High School class of ’56. Following high school Kay attended Baylor University in Waco, TX as an education major. While in college, Kay was very active in the Baylor choir program including taking private vocal lessons as a non-music major which was a rare honor at that time. Kay was very well known in the Baylor community for her beautiful singing voice and she was regularly asked to sing for events throughout the area. Kay also had the joy of spending a year teaching elementary school to 5th graders after her time at Baylor. Kay and Don Baker were both from Durango and soon after Don graduated from Naval Flight School they dated and eventually married on June 6, 1962. They had three sons, Todd, Brett, and Grant, and a wonderful marriage that spanned over six decades. As a Navy wife, Kay travelled to both West and East coasts with Don while raising their three sons (often solo while Don was at sea). Kay also kept herself active in the Navy Wives groups, hosted lovely social events, and she threw the absolutely best bridge parties. Kay was always generous with her time especially as a ranking Navy wife and also in the communities in which she lived. She was also an active member of PEO in Durango and the First Presbyterian Church. To friends and family Kay embodied virtues like loyalty, class, honesty, talent (in many areas), and being a wonderful role model. Following Don’s Naval retirement, they moved back to Durango and Vallecito Reservoir and then later to Williamsburg, VA to be closer to their first two grandchildren. Kay and Don moved one last time back to their hometown of Durango in the Spring of 2025.

A memorial for both Kay and Don will be Tuesday June 30 at Hood Mortuary from 3:00-4:00 pm for those that would like to spend a few minutes visiting and reminiscing. Refreshments will be provided.