Vernice Estelle Baker, 85, of Waco, with her family at her side, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, at the VA Hospital in Temple following a short illness. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 800 North New Road, with Pastor Paul Krupicka officiating. Burial will follow at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Clifton. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, at Connally/Compton Funeral Directors.
Vernice Estelle was born in Norse, Texas, the fifth of seven children born to the late Simon and Gina Smith Bekkelund. Growing up, Vernice attended the Clifton schools and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Coast Guard. In 1946, Vernice married Clyde Waldrep and he preceded her in death in 1967. She later married James Baker and they were married for 23 years until his death. She retired from the Owen-Illinois Glass Plant in 1988 after 37 years of service.
Upon retirement, Vernice began her second career as "Bakery The Clown". Bakery made many appearances at all the nursing homes in and around Waco and was a regular at VFWs and VA Hospitals. Vernice volunteered at Caritas, worked with Meals-on-Wheels through St. Matthew Lutheran Church, and helped with the Feast of Sharing sponsored by HEB. Vernice was a part of the Volunteer Services for the VA Hospital in Temple, and was recognized for her many hours of volunteer service in and through the VFW, with the Spirit of American Award, an award that was only given to 50 people that year. Vernice was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, participated in many of the Women's activities, but enjoyed most of all doing children's sermons as Bakery The Clown during worship. She was a member of the Honor Guard for the Coast Guard and an active member of the VFW. Vernice was also a lifetime member of the Eastern Star. She was an animal lover, especially cats and horses. But most of all, she loved her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Vernice was preceded in death by her husbands, Clyde W. Waldrep in 1967, and James L. Baker; son, Bruce Waldrep; step-mother, Lillie Mae Bekkelund; brothers, Gordon Bekkelund, Erwin Bekkelund, and Helmer Bekkelund; and sister, Hilma Bekkelund.
Survivors include her daughter, Modina Waldrep Atkins, of Waco; step-daughters, Brenda Newton, of Pine Bluff, Ark., and Betty Perez, of Cedar Park; step-son, Jimmy Baker, of Arkansas; daughter-in-law, Joy Lehrman Waldrep, of Tyler; grandsons, Eric Scott Klecka and Fabian "Trey" Klecka and wife, Misty, all of Waco; granddaughters, Sasha Waldrep Bynum and husband, Paul, and Shawna Waldrep-Olson and husband, William, all of Tyler; 11 great-grandchildren; brother, Cecil Ray Bekkelund and wife, Bobbie, of Clifton; sister, Louise Bekkelund Lane, of Waco; and many other extended grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 1/14-15/2011...X6
Vernice Estelle was born in Norse, Texas, the fifth of seven children born to the late Simon and Gina Smith Bekkelund. Growing up, Vernice attended the Clifton schools and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Coast Guard. In 1946, Vernice married Clyde Waldrep and he preceded her in death in 1967. She later married James Baker and they were married for 23 years until his death. She retired from the Owen-Illinois Glass Plant in 1988 after 37 years of service.
Upon retirement, Vernice began her second career as "Bakery The Clown". Bakery made many appearances at all the nursing homes in and around Waco and was a regular at VFWs and VA Hospitals. Vernice volunteered at Caritas, worked with Meals-on-Wheels through St. Matthew Lutheran Church, and helped with the Feast of Sharing sponsored by HEB. Vernice was a part of the Volunteer Services for the VA Hospital in Temple, and was recognized for her many hours of volunteer service in and through the VFW, with the Spirit of American Award, an award that was only given to 50 people that year. Vernice was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, participated in many of the Women's activities, but enjoyed most of all doing children's sermons as Bakery The Clown during worship. She was a member of the Honor Guard for the Coast Guard and an active member of the VFW. Vernice was also a lifetime member of the Eastern Star. She was an animal lover, especially cats and horses. But most of all, she loved her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Vernice was preceded in death by her husbands, Clyde W. Waldrep in 1967, and James L. Baker; son, Bruce Waldrep; step-mother, Lillie Mae Bekkelund; brothers, Gordon Bekkelund, Erwin Bekkelund, and Helmer Bekkelund; and sister, Hilma Bekkelund.
Survivors include her daughter, Modina Waldrep Atkins, of Waco; step-daughters, Brenda Newton, of Pine Bluff, Ark., and Betty Perez, of Cedar Park; step-son, Jimmy Baker, of Arkansas; daughter-in-law, Joy Lehrman Waldrep, of Tyler; grandsons, Eric Scott Klecka and Fabian "Trey" Klecka and wife, Misty, all of Waco; granddaughters, Sasha Waldrep Bynum and husband, Paul, and Shawna Waldrep-Olson and husband, William, all of Tyler; 11 great-grandchildren; brother, Cecil Ray Bekkelund and wife, Bobbie, of Clifton; sister, Louise Bekkelund Lane, of Waco; and many other extended grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 1/14-15/2011...X6
Vernice Estelle Baker, 85, of Waco, with her family at her side, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, at the VA Hospital in Temple following a short illness. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 800 North New Road, with Pastor Paul Krupicka officiating. Burial will follow at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Clifton. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, at Connally/Compton Funeral Directors.
Vernice Estelle was born in Norse, Texas, the fifth of seven children born to the late Simon and Gina Smith Bekkelund. Growing up, Vernice attended the Clifton schools and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Coast Guard. In 1946, Vernice married Clyde Waldrep and he preceded her in death in 1967. She later married James Baker and they were married for 23 years until his death. She retired from the Owen-Illinois Glass Plant in 1988 after 37 years of service.
Upon retirement, Vernice began her second career as "Bakery The Clown". Bakery made many appearances at all the nursing homes in and around Waco and was a regular at VFWs and VA Hospitals. Vernice volunteered at Caritas, worked with Meals-on-Wheels through St. Matthew Lutheran Church, and helped with the Feast of Sharing sponsored by HEB. Vernice was a part of the Volunteer Services for the VA Hospital in Temple, and was recognized for her many hours of volunteer service in and through the VFW, with the Spirit of American Award, an award that was only given to 50 people that year. Vernice was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, participated in many of the Women's activities, but enjoyed most of all doing children's sermons as Bakery The Clown during worship. She was a member of the Honor Guard for the Coast Guard and an active member of the VFW. Vernice was also a lifetime member of the Eastern Star. She was an animal lover, especially cats and horses. But most of all, she loved her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Vernice was preceded in death by her husbands, Clyde W. Waldrep in 1967, and James L. Baker; son, Bruce Waldrep; step-mother, Lillie Mae Bekkelund; brothers, Gordon Bekkelund, Erwin Bekkelund, and Helmer Bekkelund; and sister, Hilma Bekkelund.
Survivors include her daughter, Modina Waldrep Atkins, of Waco; step-daughters, Brenda Newton, of Pine Bluff, Ark., and Betty Perez, of Cedar Park; step-son, Jimmy Baker, of Arkansas; daughter-in-law, Joy Lehrman Waldrep, of Tyler; grandsons, Eric Scott Klecka and Fabian "Trey" Klecka and wife, Misty, all of Waco; granddaughters, Sasha Waldrep Bynum and husband, Paul, and Shawna Waldrep-Olson and husband, William, all of Tyler; 11 great-grandchildren; brother, Cecil Ray Bekkelund and wife, Bobbie, of Clifton; sister, Louise Bekkelund Lane, of Waco; and many other extended grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 1/14-15/2011...X6
Vernice Estelle was born in Norse, Texas, the fifth of seven children born to the late Simon and Gina Smith Bekkelund. Growing up, Vernice attended the Clifton schools and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Coast Guard. In 1946, Vernice married Clyde Waldrep and he preceded her in death in 1967. She later married James Baker and they were married for 23 years until his death. She retired from the Owen-Illinois Glass Plant in 1988 after 37 years of service.
Upon retirement, Vernice began her second career as "Bakery The Clown". Bakery made many appearances at all the nursing homes in and around Waco and was a regular at VFWs and VA Hospitals. Vernice volunteered at Caritas, worked with Meals-on-Wheels through St. Matthew Lutheran Church, and helped with the Feast of Sharing sponsored by HEB. Vernice was a part of the Volunteer Services for the VA Hospital in Temple, and was recognized for her many hours of volunteer service in and through the VFW, with the Spirit of American Award, an award that was only given to 50 people that year. Vernice was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, participated in many of the Women's activities, but enjoyed most of all doing children's sermons as Bakery The Clown during worship. She was a member of the Honor Guard for the Coast Guard and an active member of the VFW. Vernice was also a lifetime member of the Eastern Star. She was an animal lover, especially cats and horses. But most of all, she loved her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Vernice was preceded in death by her husbands, Clyde W. Waldrep in 1967, and James L. Baker; son, Bruce Waldrep; step-mother, Lillie Mae Bekkelund; brothers, Gordon Bekkelund, Erwin Bekkelund, and Helmer Bekkelund; and sister, Hilma Bekkelund.
Survivors include her daughter, Modina Waldrep Atkins, of Waco; step-daughters, Brenda Newton, of Pine Bluff, Ark., and Betty Perez, of Cedar Park; step-son, Jimmy Baker, of Arkansas; daughter-in-law, Joy Lehrman Waldrep, of Tyler; grandsons, Eric Scott Klecka and Fabian "Trey" Klecka and wife, Misty, all of Waco; granddaughters, Sasha Waldrep Bynum and husband, Paul, and Shawna Waldrep-Olson and husband, William, all of Tyler; 11 great-grandchildren; brother, Cecil Ray Bekkelund and wife, Bobbie, of Clifton; sister, Louise Bekkelund Lane, of Waco; and many other extended grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 1/14-15/2011...X6
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