Boneta Fay (Prior) Baker

Boneta Fay (Prior) Baker died peacefully in her sleep the morning of Sunday January 12th.   

Bonnie was born August 24, 1937, the 4th of 7 children of Orvel B. and Minnie M. (Hopkins) Prior on a farm in the Franklin district, east of Carthage, IL.  During middle school years, her family moved a few miles south to Bentley, next to Smyrna Church where she was a faithful member.  She was in the first graduating class of the current building known as Illini West (formerly Carthage High School).  An excellent student, she was voted Courtesy Queen and enjoyed participating in Home Economics Club and 4-H. Following graduation, she completed the 3-year RN training program at Passavant Hospital School of Nursing in Jacksonville.  In February 1964, she married Charles G. Baker of Modesto, IL and they moved to Downers Grove, IL.  To this union, three children, Marsha E., Rodney A. and Howard E. Baker were welcomed.  In 1968, Bonnie and her children moved back to Carthage where she worked at Carthage Hospital, as Nursing Supervisor in Keokuk, IA and as Director of a nursing home in Macomb, IL.  Chronic illness necessitated a move to the Springfield, IL area where she has been an active resident of Springfield Terrace/Aperion Care Center for the last 25 years.  Bonnie was happiest when helping others, spending time with family and singing praises to her Lord and Savior. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Mrs. James (Hilda Mae) Harris and Mrs. Jack (Joyce) Allen and her son, Howard.  

Left to mourn, are her two children, Mrs. Ron (Marsha) Malloy of New Berlin, WI and Mr. Rodney (Yuko) Baker, siblings Mr. Richard Prior of Carthage, IL, Mrs. James (Marjorie) Ridings of Greenville, IL, Mrs. Chester (Myrtle) White of Carthage, and Mr. Charles (Mary) Prior, four granddaughters (Melissa Dillett, Alexis Malloy and Jessica and Julia Baker) and her three month old great granddaughter, Caralynn Dillett.  

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 P.M. Saturday, January 18, 2020, at Printy Funeral Home in Carthage with burial to follow in Moss Ridge Cemetery in Carthage.  Visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. until time of services at 2:30 at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Smyrna Primitive Baptist Church or the Springfield Aperion Care Center Activity Program.  Printy Funeral Home of Carthage is in charge of arrangements.

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