Obituary - Frances E (Schoening) Baker

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Frances Elizabeth Baker, 100, of Longview passed away peacefully May 5, 2014, at home. 

She was born Dec. 8, 1913, in Gunnarskog, Sweden, to Eli "Louis" and Matilda (Johnson) Schoening. The family emigrated to the U.S. within the year, taking a homestead near Garrison, N.D. She grew up on a farm and was the only child. She graduated from Appleton High School in Minnesota in 1932. Frankie got the loan of a car from her father and, with two friends, headed west to find work. 

While working as an aide at a hospital in Grand Coulee, Wash., Frankie met Jim Baker. They married in Vancouver in September of 1935 and moved to the area. Jim was killed in a logging accident in 1955 and Frankie became an office clerk for Weyerhaeuser, working until retiring in the late 1970s. 

She was a member of Eastern Star, Pacific Place Loop Club, Pacific Palettes painting group and the Society of Decorative Painters. Frankie was a gifted artist and her fine art and tole paintings were quickly sold at bazaars. She enjoyed gardening, carpentry, building and refinishing furniture, quilting, sewing, leaded glass, porcelain dolls and collecting antiques. She was supportive and caring of family and friends and a good neighbor. An article celebrating Frankie's 100th birthday was published in The Daily News on Dec. 14, 2013. 

Survivors include two daughters, June Louderback (John) of Winlock and Roberta "Bobbie" Humphreys of Bellingham; four grandchildren, Tammi Kruse (Bob) of Rapid City, S.D., Holly Jessop (Scott) of Kaysville, Utah, Eric Louderback (Julie) of Amity, Ore., and Carrie Brooks of Bellingham; 14 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. 

In addition to her husband Jim, Frankie was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Terry Humphreys. 

At Frankie's request, no service will be held. Cremation has taken place under the direction of The Neptune Society. Her ashes will be laid to rest next to her husband's at Whittle-Hubbard Cemetery in Castle Rock. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the Community Home Health & Hospice, P.O. Box 2067, Longview, WA 98632 or The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1218, Longview, WA 98632.