Carola Pamela (Peterson) Baker

Carola Pamela Baker, 82, from Shelby, passed away Friday, April 19, 2024, after a brief illness and a lifetime of love and laughter. Carola was born January 11, 1942, in River Rouge, Michigan, to Cyril and Lillian (Burris) Peterson.

Her family traveled to several states to find employment before finally settling down in the Stony Lake area. She graduated from Shelby High School in 1959 and was co-Homecoming Queen her senior year. She married Jack Baker on February 14, 1963. During their 41-year marriage, the couple raised four children. Carola worked as a telephone operator, bookkeeper, cashier and homemaker. She was a gifted seamstress, cook, painter, dancer, and Halloween costume maker. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, word searches, and watching “Gunsmoke” at the kitchen table while complaining that Jack’s TV in the living room was too loud (to which he usually replied, “What?”).

Carola is survived by: her children, Scott (Beth) Baker, Sherry Buchanan, Dawn (Rick) Kurdziel, and Tadji Bowen; grandchildren, Kara, Nick, Jacy, Kaitlyn, Lillian, Delaney, Abby, and Miya; great-grandchildren, Lydia, Alaina, Riley, Julia, Joseph, Isaac, and Lincoln; sister, Darlene; and brothers, John and Christian.

Carola was preceded in death by: her parents, Cyril and Lillian; husband, Jack; brother, Bob; sisters, Betty and Penny; grandson, Christopher.

Visitation will be held from 10 am until 12 pm, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at Harris Funeral Home, 267 N. Michigan Avenue, Shelby, Michigan 49455. A luncheon will follow at the funeral home. Interment will be at 2 pm, in Benona Township Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Oceana Medical Care Facility’s Alzheimer’s Care Unit: 701 E. Main St., Hart, MI 49420.

Harris Funeral Home, in Shelby, is in charge of arrangements.

www.harrisfhome.com

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