Susan Baker's Obituary
Betty “Susan” Baker, age 76, of Dallas, Texas passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on November 4th, 2025. She was born on December 29th, 1948, in Dallas, Texas to the delight of Betty and Glenn Baker.
Susan had a great big, beautiful smile. She talked to everyone that crossed her path and never met a stranger. She loved asking people questions about their families and when their birthdays were. She would remember every detail they told her and astound us all.
From 1964- 2020 Susan was a member of White Rock United Methodist Church and the Harmony Sunday School Class where she attended with her parents every week. She loved adopting a child or two from their Christmas Angel Tree and shop for toys and clothes for them. Giving to others (and shopping with her mother) brought her great joy.
Her giving heart was evident in all she did. She loved giving gifts to all her friends and family for birthdays, weddings, and especially baby showers. She brought so much joy and happiness to all that knew and loved her.
Volunteering gave her great delight. For many years she would decorate thousands of holiday and seasonal tray table favors for Methodist Hospital Dallas patients. Susan and her mother Betty were celebrated by the hospital multiple times for their volunteer efforts.
Dressing up and looking nice always made her feel her best. She especially loved pretty rings, jewelry, and the perfect dress to match. Going to the beauty shop and getting her hair fixed were desires that she had up until her very last day. She loved dressing up to go “eat out”. Her favorite place these past five years was the Rose Garden Tea Room in Arlington. Her siblings gave her a Surprise 75th birthday party there and she had a fabulous time. She also loved to go to Hong Kong Restaurant on Garland Road every week (usually on Saturday) with her parents and anyone else that wanted to join them. This was their tradition for over 40 years.
Everyone who knew Susan knew that she loved Elvis. She collected his memorabilia all her life and couldn’t start a new year without an Elvis calendar. When she heard his songs, her feet would start tapping and next thing we knew she would be dancing. She attended several local Elvis impersonator concerts and felt so happy when “Elvis” would sing to her and put his scarf around her neck. She would ask everyone she met, “Do you like Elvis?’
Susan proudly worked at ACHIEVE (formerly known as Citizens Development Center) for around 40 years until it closed during COVID in 2020. She loved her work, co-workers and supervisors. She looked forward to their parties where she could dance and have fun several times throughout the year. She always requested that the disc jockey play some Elvis songs. Walking in their annual Dash for Dignity marathon with her co-workers and family was a highlight of her year. She would make a beeline to talk to the Race Chairman, Mike Doocy, (from Channel 4 News) and get her picture taken with him. She also enjoyed weekly visits to her beloved Camp Soroptimist each summer for over 20 years. She delighted in visiting with her friends and staff along with their many crafts and activities.
Her life story would not be complete without acknowledging her amazing Host Family and Caregivers DeLauren and Jack Villareal, their daughter Baileigh, mother Cynthia, and their many friends and relatives. She lived with them (and her sweet friends Rebecca and Tiger) for the last 5 ½ years in Arlington, Texas. During those years she was surrounded by so much love, good food, and fun activities (multiple parties, vacations, and DayHab). She really had an amazing life with them, and we will be forever grateful for their kindness and unconditional love.
Susan is proceeded in death by her loving and devoted parents Glenn and Betty Baker. She is survived by her three siblings: brother Steve Baker and wife Mary of Dallas, Texas; sister Sandy and husband Joe Hyles of Athens, Texas; and sister Sarah and husband Sheldon Sanders of Flower Mound, Texas. Susan is also survived by her “favorite” niece Rachel Sanders and husband Sean Hoes of Littleton, Colorado and her “favorite” nephew Scott Sanders and wife Simone of Van Alstyne, Texas and their two children. She was so happy to be Great Aunt Susan to her great niece Lily and great nephew Reuben. She is also survived by her Aunt Wanda Baker and many Baker and Turner cousins that all loved and adored her.
The family wants to thank all the nurses and staff at Cross Timbers Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Flower Mound, Texas for caring for Susan during this last two months as well as the nurses and staff at Gentiva Hospice Care during her last week.
The visitation will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025 from 9:30 to 10:30am at Restland Funeral Home's Wildwood Chapel, followed by the funeral service at 10:30am and interment at Restland Cemetery - Garden of Love.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory to Open Hearts ‘N Hands https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/6LE297M8AEUF8 - This Charity Foundation was organized by the Villareal family and provides Christmas toys for children in need. Susan loved helping with it every year.
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