Joyce Ann Baker

Joyce Ann (Rickner) Baker was born July 1, 1939, to Dave Freed and Elen Viola (Hembree) Rickner in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She passed away at her home in Vinita, Oklahoma on February 29, 2024, at the age of 84, with family at her side. 

Joyce started first grade at Bixby Schools and graduated from Coweta High School in 1959. During her school years, she cultivated her love for music as a member of the Coweta Junior High and High School choirs. She served as a youth leader at Coweta First Free Will Baptist Church and enjoyed singing in the choir there. Joyce met the love of her life, Jimmie Dale Baker, at the church in 1957. They were married on November 29, 1959, at Coweta First Free Will Baptist Church. Their first son, Marvin Dale Baker, was born on November 6, 1963. He was their only child for almost nine years, until he was joined by their second son, Jimmie Dave Baker, on May 31, 1972. Joyce and her family moved to Stone Bluff, Oklahoma and resided there for 35 years. While there, Joyce expressed her passion for music, by singing often with Joann and Sonny Stephens. In November of 2006, Joyce and Jimmie moved to Langley, Oklahoma, to be close to their son Marvin. Joyce enjoyed crafts, traveling, cooking, singing and sewing. Joyce was a member of Spavinaw Hills House of Worship Church in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, where she sang in the church choir.

Joyce is survived by her son Marvin Baker and wife Tabitha of Langley, OK; sister-in-law Donna Rickner; six grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends, who will all mourn her passing. 

She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, 8 months, and 10 days, Jimmie Dale Baker; son Jimmie Dave Baker; brother David Rickner; and sister Betty Toothman.

A night of visitation will be held on Monday, March 4, 2024, from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Shipman’s Funeral Home in Pryor, Oklahoma. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am, on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Shipman’s Funeral Home Chapel, with burial to follow at Bixby Cemetery in Bixby, Oklahoma. To leave her family a message, please visit her guestbook at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman's Funeral & Cremation Service of Pryor.