Sandra Baker

Sandra Lea Baker, best known as Sandy to her friends and family, passed away peacefully on June 4th, 2026, at 83 years-of-age in Durant, Oklahoma. Despite the challenges of Alzheimer’s, the disease never diminished the kindness she so freely shared with others. Anyone who had the privilege to know Sandy knew she loved them. Sandy was born to James and Violet (McDonald) Baker on December 5, 1942, in a logging camp in Clebit, Oklahoma. After graduating Battiest High School, she attended Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton for two years where she was known as a very good dancer and attended all of the sock hops. She transferred to Southeastern State College in Durant, Oklahoma to finish her teaching degree. She has said that her life’s ambition was to become a mother and God also blessed her with a career that she loved working primarily with first graders. Sandy loved teaching students to read, loved her co-teachers like family, and pulled many baby teeth while employed at Henryetta Schools. If you ever had her as a teacher, know that you were loved and prayed for and even years after retiring, she enjoyed telling the funny stories about her first graders. All her former students will know that she expected them to mind their P’s and Q’s, which she thought stood for politeness and quietness, only to later be told it stands for pints and quarts! Sandy was first a mother to Kelly Michelle and Kenya Danielle. She was always the homeroom mom, driver of lots of kids to skating rinks and dance classes, and the best birthday party planner ever. Later, she was a devoted MeMa or MeMe to her grandkids and loved them dearly. To know Sandy was to know that her kids and grandkids were her joy and biggest accomplishment. Sandy loved Jesus and throughout the years was an active member at Henryetta First Baptist Church, Broken Bow First Baptist Church, and FBC Durant. Sandy was instrumental to introducing her family to Jesus and many others through years teaching Sunday School, VBS, or helping in the nursery. It gives her family comfort knowing she is at the feet of Jesus right now celebrating in His glory. Sandy is preceded in death by her beloved parents, James and Violet Baker, sister, Glenda Baker, and several cousins whom she was looking forward to reuniting with in Heaven. She is survived by her daughters Kelly Marshall (Rob) and Kenya Coyle (Tracy) and her grandchildren Trevor Rodman, Madison Marshall, Brooke Marshall, Caleb Marshall, Kennedy Coyle, and Bryson Coyle. In her final years, Sandy was lovingly cared for by the staff of Featherstone Assisted Living and Complete Hospice. Her family is forever grateful for the love, care, and attention given to Sandy the last few years. Sandy’s legacy is one of kindness, love, joy, and encouragement. Please join us for her celebration of life. Services will be Tuesday, June 9, at 10:00am in the Student Worship Center (Beech Street entrance) at FBC Durant. Graveside service will follow in the Crown Hill Cemetery in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, at approximately 2:00pm. Serving as pallbearers will be Trevor Rodman, Bryson Coyle, Rob Marshall, Alan Coyle, Kenny Chaffin, and Brady Baskin. Honorary pallbearers will be Gary McDonald, John Burgess, and Denton McDonald. Family invites those who loved and were friends with Sandy to join us at Brown’s Funeral Home in Durant, Oklahoma, from 6:00-8:00 Monday evening, June 8, to share cherished memories and honor Sandy’s life. Online condolences may be sent to Sandy’s family at www.brownsfuneralservice.com https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/RG4DMPR7W5NFDKZK

Sandra Baker

December 5, 1942 - June 4, 2026