Mrs. Violet Janice Baker

March 5, 1935 - March 13, 2020

Violet Janice Wylie Baker, age 85 of Wickes passed away Friday, March 13, 2020 in Wickes, Arkansas. Violet was born on March 5, 1935 in Wickes, Arkansas to the late Paul and Rachel Loyd. Violet and her late husband Wilburn were owners of Wylie’s Grocery Store in Wickes. Later in life she enjoyed traveling across the United States and Canada as an owner/operator and co-truck driver with her late husband Wilburn. They traveled all 50 states and she made multiple trips to Israel “the Holy Land” that she loved dearly. Violet was instrumental in helping establish the Senior Citizen Center of Wickes and helped implement, staff and transported clients. Violet had a deep and personal walk with Christ. It began in a crusade meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada at the age of 28. She then began to attend the Church of the Nazarene. It was there that she grew in Christ and became a Sunday School teacher and worked with the youth. Later, she returned to the Baker community where she was raised and began to attend the Baker Rock Church. She also attended the Wickes Pentecostal Church where she served as Treasurer and Sunday School Secretary. Violet was a prayer warrior, loved the Lord deeply and served her family with a Godly example and Christian love. She treasured and cherished every moment she spent with her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She is survived by: Husband: Alvin Baker of Wickes, Arkansas Daughter: Gail Watkins and husband W. C. of Wickes, Arkansas Son: Lee Wylie of Wickes, Arkansas Stepchildren: Jimmie Baker and wife Allison of Desoto, Texas David Baker of Troup, Texas Jerry Baker of Hope, Arkansas Grandson: Ricky McKenzie and wife LeAnn of Vandervoort, Arkansas Granddaughter: Kristi Hunter and husband Tom of Mena, Arkansas Great grandchildren: Caleb Baber, Dalton McKenzie, Rachel Pennington, Brooklyn Pennington, Aiden McKenzie, Zach McCormick and Connor McCormick Step grandchildren: Clayton Baker and wife Julia of Chatanooga, Tennessee, Shelby Word and husband Cristian of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Carter Baker of Elk City, Oklahoma, Joshua Baker of Bethany, Oklahoma, Katherine Baker and Aubree Baker of Desoto, Texas, Sister: Lois Jones of Grannis, Arkansas Brother: Leon Loyd of Wickes, Arkansas She was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Rachel Loyd, husband Wilburn Lee Wyle, step daughter-in-law and step-granddaughter Susan Baker and Alyssa, brothers Arthur Loyd, Paul Loyd and Freddie Loyd. Funeral services will be Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Wickes Church of the Nazarene with Brother David Baker and Brother James Squires officiating. Interment will follow at Baker Cemetery under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home of Mena.