Graveside services for Barbara Jean Baker, 88, West Plains, Missouri, will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 6, 2026, at the Howell Memorial Park Cemetery, under the direction of the Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Barbara passed away Tuesday morning, June 30, at the West Vue Nursing Center, after battling Alzheimer’s for many years. She was born November 5, 1937, in West Plains, to James and Ada Bale.

I, Carrie, one of her nieces, volunteered to write this obituary to honor the woman that her family so dearly loved.

Barbara was the oldest of three daughters. She also had an older brother. She grew up in West Plains. I’m assuming as the oldest girl, she was a little bit bossy. I know, as an aunt, she was. She was small in stature, but mighty in all the ways that matter. The only things I know that she was scared of were storms and, in lack of better words, stranger danger. She wanted her family to be safe.

Barbara was working as an insurance agent in Little Rock, Arkansas, when she met her love, Al Baker. She and Al married in 1965 in Texarkana. They lived in both Arkansas and Texas over the next 26 years. They ran their own insurance agency, and Al sold used cars on the side.

Over the years, Barbara had many four-legged children: Pete, Pepe, Riley, Charlie and Missy, to name a few. She spoke to and treated each just as she would a child. You could see the love she gave them was mutual. They were so smart and so sweet. The only time, I saw them misbehave was at our family farm, when she would bring them with her to visit. Most of her children were poodles. They would come freshly groomed and primped, and immediately run from the car to the field for a rolling in the hay, mud, etc. She would be so upset. Even though, it happened every time!

Al passed away in 1991. Shortly after, Barbara sold their agency and moved back to West Plains to be near her family. When her middle sister, Marie, retired and moved to Mountain Home, Arkansas, Barbara moved into the family home with her mother, Ada. Ada lived in the basement, and Barbara lived upstairs. Their home was next door to Barbara’s youngest sister, Louise. Barbara lived there, until their mother passed away.

For the past ten years, Barbara has lived at the West Vue Nursing Center. Her family thanks the doctors, staff and especially the nurses for the care of Barbara over the years. Your kindness, support and professionalism has been a great comfort to our family. We would also like to express our gratitude to my cousin, Tina Hatley, for serving as the family’s point person with West Vue, after Barbara’s sister, Marie, passed away in 2020.

I’d like to share a little about my relationship with Barbara. She always spoke to me like a little adult. She picked my name, so I always had the impression that that made me partly hers. I’m going to refer back to my earlier statement about her being bossy. As soon as I, or she, depending whose home we were at, hit the door...it was “Carrie do this.” “Carrie do that.” My own mother told me I didn’t have to do “whatever” it was. My response, “But Barbara said...” I did it! I didn’t do it out of fear. I did it out of love and respect. I think Barbara was making sure that I wouldn’t grow up as timid as my mom. It worked!

I asked my cousins for their thoughts of Barbara. Here are some of the things they responded with: strong; independent; ornery, in a good way; fun; funny; thoughtful; giving; fierce; protective; spitfire; a great laugh, often at her own funnies; spunky. I think this sums up our aunt very well. Even after Alzheimer’s robbed her of her memories, mobility and speech, we would still occasionally see that sparkle in her gorgeous, expressive eyes. Then you could see the spark fade. That spark is back now and won’t be extinguished again!

Barbara is preceded in death by her father, James Bale; her mother, Ada Bale; her spouse, Al Baker; two brothers, Charles and Jimmy Bale (infant); two sisters, Ora “Marie” Skinner and Sylvia “Louise” Andrews; one brother-in-law, Lewis “Tom” Skinner; and one sister-in-law, Betty Bale; and a nephew, James Steven Bale.

Barbara is survived by one brother-in-law, Gordon Andrews; a nephew, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, and cousins who will miss her very much.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association online at https://events.Alzheimer's Association /fundraisers/carriewindes/barbara-baker, or may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 W Main St., West Plains, Missouri.