Lila Lee Baker

Lila Lee Baker (nee Kirk) died November 20, 2025, after a brief illness at Allure of Pinecrest in Mt. Morris, IL, with her family at her side. Born July 15, 1923, in Quincy, IL, Lila was 102 years old. She was the oldest of five children born to Anna Kirk (nee Howanitz) and David D. Kirk.

Lila was an 81-year resident of Mt. Morris, beginning in 1944, when she married Edward Francis Baker, a local farmer. He preceded her in death on August 23, 2005. The couple was married for 61 years. She is survived by their three children: Barbara B. Stephenson of Scottsdale, AZ, Dr. Edward Kirk Baker (Molly) of Mt. Morris, and Francine Lee Baker (John Jackson) of Scottsdale, AZ.

She also is survived by her four grandchildren: Gretchen Baker (Greg Krogen), Grant Baker, Maren Swank (Matt), Mitchell Baker (Kali Moody), and five loving great-grandchildren: Willa, Hollis and Rian Swank, Svea Krogen and Lila Baker.

Lila’s surviving sibling, Ellen Rauch, lives in Roseville, CA. Her other siblings, Ada Berkey, William Kirk and David Kirk all preceded her in death, as well as her son-in-law Al Stephenson and grandson, William Stephenson.

Lila began school in Quincy, IL. By her fourth grade, the family had moved to Dixon, IL, where she continued her education, graduating from Dixon High School in 1941. She embraced high school life by being the drum majorette for the band, acting in plays, and serving as editor of the yearbook, while maintaining excellent grades. Upon graduation, she received the American Legion Award and a year’s scholarship to the University of Chicago. After her freshman year in college with her scholarship running out, she returned to Dixon where she used her artistic talents at Hintz Photography Studio. During World War II, her work was colorizing portraits since color photography was not yet available.

As a child, Lila’s father, who was an amateur artist, had taken her to art classes in Grand Detour where the teacher discovered she was very talented and encouraged her father to provide opportunities for her art. This early training sparked a life-long interest in artistic expression, particularly painting.

During World War II, while roller skating with girlfriends at Assembly Park in Dixon, Lila met her future husband, Francis Baker, who lived south of Mt. Morris on the Baker Family Farm. On her first visit, she took a bus from Dixon to Oregon where Francis picked her up and drove her west six miles to the farm. At that time, Oregon Trail Road was a rolling, curvy, gravel road that seemed to go on forever and she surmised that it really was “back in the sticks” compared to Dixon. As they planned their wedding, Francis wanted to wait until his two brothers, who were serving in the armed forces, could be home, but they decided not to wait! They were married October 8, 1944, at the Dixon Methodist Church, with a reception at Loveland Community House, documented on a 16-millimeter color movie.

As a “city-girl,” Lila learned many new skills required on the farm, not least of which was processing turkeys in the basement of the farm home, and then carrying them upstairs to be cooled on racks in the porch of the house. Her mother-in-law managed the 1,000-bird Pine Creek Turkey Farm and engaged a crew of area women to help each fall leading up to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The farm delivered its custom turkeys to Mt. Morris families and businesses. in the early 1950’s, Lila was thrilled when the processing moved out of the farm house into a new barn as the number of turkeys raised reached 4,000 yearly.

Lila assisted Francis on the farm, when necessary, but primarily managed the household and cared for their young family in the early years of the marriage. She taught fourth grade Sunday School classes at the Mt. Morris Methodist Church where she and Francis were members, served on the school board at the Pine Creek Country School and later, was elected to the Mt. Morris School Board.

When her children were all in school, Lila worked at McGregor Magazine agency and Watt Publishing Company. Her final employment was as Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools for the Mt. Morris school system.

With a busy family and social life from 1945-1975, Lila had little time to nurture her interest in art except for occasional classes with Harry Nurmet, a regional artist in Oregon, IL. That changed when she and Francis began spending winters in Arizona in the 1980s and she found a new mentor in Jim Strong, a Western painter. Lila’s artistic talents were rekindled when she began full-day painting classes at his Scottsdale studio once a week. During the 1980s and 1990s, she was producing 25-30 acrylic paintings each winter.

Lila’s painting style was realistic. Her subject matter was wide-ranging, including Western canyon lands and desert scenery, Native Americans, cowboys, Midwestern lakes and birch trees, farmers and farm scenes, animals, flowers, the Blackhawk statue, family portraits, and even Santa Claus. Some have been shown in bank and library exhibits in Mt. Morris. Family members treasure the “Lila Baker” paintings that proudly hang in their homes.

Lila always loved to travel and she and Francis were able to visit Colombia, South America, where their oldest daughter served in the Peace Corps. After Francis’ death, she was able to see the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican and the Louvre in Paris with her family.

Because of her 102 years, Lila lost many of her friends, but these losses were bearable in part because of her eternal optimism and faith that “every day is a gift.” She was blessed to be in very good health to celebrate her 100th birthday where she hosted an open house and dinner with almost 100 family and friends. Her example lives on as an inspiration to all of us.

A visitation will be held at Finch Funeral Home, 405 E Hitt, Mt. Morris on Friday, December 12th from 4:00-6:00 pm. A family-only burial will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday at Cedar Hill Cemetery, rural Mt. Morris. The memorial service will be Saturday, December 13th at 3:30 pm at Disciples United Methodist Church,102 Maple Ave, Mt. Morris, IL with Pastor Marcia Peddicord officiating. Following the service, a light supper will be served in the Fellowship Hall.

Memorials may be given to Disciples United Methodist Church, 102 Maple Ave, Mt. Morris, IL 61054 (disciplesumc.org) and Encore! Mt. Morris (a non-profit arts organization), 105 W. Lincoln St., Mt. Morris, IL 61054 (encoremtmorris.com).