Joanne Baker

Helen Joan “Joanne” Baker was born on June 4, 1929, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Floyd and Eloise Eoff. She passed away on May 16, 2021, at home in Norman, surrounded by her family. Joanne grew up in Norman, Oklahoma City and Duncan. She had a sense of adventure and love for travel that began in her teens as she traveled to study abroad in Mexico. It was there that she met the love of her life, Jerry Baker. They married on March 28, 1947 and were married just shy of 69 years before his passing in 2016. Joanne and Jerry were the proud parents of four daughters: Barbara, Angela, Deborah, and Melissa.

Joanne and her husband Jerry were true companions and soul mates by every definition. They were lifetime supporters of The University of Oklahoma and spent most of their married life in Duncan where they raised their daughters, were influential in the community, and made treasured friendships. They loved dancing and entertaining together. Joanne’s sense of humor was one of her greatest gifts. Her love and pride for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren defined her. She was known by Jerry as “Lightening” on the tennis court and she was an avid bridge player. Joanne and Jerry retired young and traveled the world together, making dear lifelong friendships along the way. She loved their home in Maui where they shared years of happy times with family and friends.

Joanne was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Baker; her parents, Floyd Eoff and Henry and Eloise Heller; her brother, Gene Eoff; her daughter, Barbara Baker Satterwhite; her granddaughter, Hayley Cochran McCarty; her sons-in-law, Jerry Steely and Gary Cooper.

She is survived by her three daughters: Angela Baker Steely of Norman; Deborah Baker Cochran and her husband Steve, of Cushing; Melissa Lee Franks and her husband Jim, of Norman. Grandchildren: Jeff Cooper, wife Lynn and their children, Kaleigh and Carson, of Edmond; Leigh Cooper Wheatley, husband Russell and their children, Alexandra and Molly, of Chagrin Falls, OH; Lindsey Cochran Burns, her husband, Brandon and their children Baker, Hadley, and Bennett of Oklahoma City; Jenny Cochran, her partner Shannon McCord and children Wells, Mabel and Julia of Dallas, TX. Jay Satterwhite, his wife Martha and their daughter, Barbara, of Minneapolis, MN; John Clet Satterwhite, wife Nicole and children, Tosh and Jackson, of Madison, WI; Josh Satterwhite of Minneapolis, MN; Jerry David Franks and his children Lauren, Conner and Samuel of Norman; James Franks, his wife, Jennifer and their children, Thomas, John Isaac and Joseph of Norman; Andrew Baker Franks, his wife Elizabeth and children, Dale and Edward of Piedmont; great-granddaughter Emerson McCarty, daughter of the late Hayley McCarty; son-in-law, John Satterwhite and wife Renee, of Phillips, WI; daughter-in-law Mary Satterwhite of Minneapolis, MN; and many cousins, friends and extended family.

Funeral services will be held under the direction of Whitt Funeral Home, Monday, May 24, 2021, at 11:00 AM at the Whitt Funeral Home Chapel, 4748 US-81, Duncan, OK 73533. A private family burial will be held prior to the service.

The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude for the caregivers of Loving Care In-Home and Hospice Services.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made to the Barbara Baker Satterwhite Memorial Scholarship Fund at BancFirst, P.O. Box 1468, Duncan, OK 73534 or to a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.whittfh.com.

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