Charlyn Anne Baker

Charlyn Anne Baker passed away April 16 at her home in Yukon surrounded by her family. She was born in 1943 in Lafayette, Louisiana. She moved to Oklahoma City where she graduated from Harding High School. After the birth of her sons, Art and Jeff she attended Texas Christian University where she excelled in the classroom, graduating with honors in 1971. She was selected as a PHI BETA KAPPA graduate for her outstanding academic performance. She moved from Fort Worth, TX to Oklahoma City in 1971 where she went to work for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services as a caseworker. She immediately became an exceptional social worker. She was chosen by the department to pursue a Masters of Social Work degree. She attended the University of Texas in Arlington and completed her degree at The University of Oklahoma in 1976. Following earning her MSW she was named the Director of the Pauline Mayer Juvenile Shelter in Oklahoma County. She impacted the lives of thousands of children and families over her 39- year career. She also was a huge influence on the people she employed and played a major role in the careers of many of the people she supervised. She was a highly respected administrator and adored by her staff, many of whom remained life-long friends. She was the pride and joy of her grandmother Ida Baker and her mother Anne Rorem whom she cared for during a decade long battle with Alzheimer's disease. In 1997 she became a grandmother to Fred Finley and in 2000 to Billy Joe Finley. It was a role she cherished. She had a terrific wit and sense of humor and delighted in the company of her friends. She was an avid bridge player and animal lover. She especially loved dogs and leaves behind her latest, Lola, her Yorkshire terrier. She loved spending time with her family, especially her son Jeff and his wife Kanara, who were her neighbors in Yukon the last 15 years. She is preceded in death by her parents Anne Rorem and Arthur Ramage. She is survived by her sons, Art Finley of Yukon and Jeff Finley and wife Kanara of Yukon; brother, Jim Ramage of Edmond; sister, Ronnie Hyde of Seattle, WA; stepmother, Mary Ann Ramage of Seattle, WA; grandsons, Frederick of Yukon and William Joseph Finley of Allen, TX and life-long friend, Jack Dodge of Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, Anne wished donations be made to Paralyzed Veterans of America or the ASPCA. Memorial service will be celebrated Saturday, April 23 at 11 a.m. at Smith & Kernke May Chapel.