Esther Geraldean Baker McCubbins was born on Oct. 16, 1926, to Jesse Laurell Baker and Bertha Lavonia Crawford Baker in Upton, Mo. She left this world Aug. 28, 2015.
She is survived by siblings, Imogene Holland, Gilberta McEntire, Jerry Baker and Donald Baker (Rosalie Baker). She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
She married Harold Elliott McCubbins on April 7, 1949. To this union three children were born: Barbara Ann Morgan (Darrell Morgan-deceased), Ray Anthony McCubbins and Janice Kay Lundy (Kendall Lundy). She was grandmother to seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandkids with one on the way.
Growing up during the Depression, the oldest child of a Preacher-Carpenter father shaped Geraldean’s attitude toward how she made life decisions. She was given the responsibility of overseeing her younger siblings and helping her mother with the housework. Early in her life she displayed a talent for sewing, and her mother often commented that she was born with a needle in her hand.
She lived in various places around Texas County, Mo., during the first 28 years of her life, graduating from Houston High School and attending Southwest Baptist College, Bolivar, Mo., and Missouri State University, Springfield, Mo., to obtain her teaching certificate. During her teaching career she taught all grades, many times in one-room schoolhouses. She also worked for a year in a uniform garment manufacturing plant in Summersville, Mo.
During the year of 1954, she and Harold decided to move to Wichita, Kan., to take advantage of the better job opportunities. Because there were now children in the home, she used her sewing talents to start a home business, sewing for other people. Geraldean worked from her home until 1982, when she took a position with JC Penny in their alterations department. She retired in 2002 at the age of 75.
During her retirement, she enjoyed yard work, gardening, cooking, sewing and working to further God’s kingdom through Sharon Baptist Church as long she was physically able.
Geraldean chose to follow Christ’s teachings at the age of 12 and was baptized by her father in the Piney River. Her well-thumbed Bible is a testament to her daily practice of spending time in His presence. She has been a faithful servant to Jesus by serving as a Sunday school teacher, nursery worker and serving where needed to the best of her abilities. During her life, she strived to make sure that Christ’s light showed through all she did. One of her parting statements was, “absent from here is to be present with the Lord.”
Visitation is 10-11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, at Evans Funeral Home in Houston, Mo., with services beginning at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Big Creek Cemetery. A memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sept. 8, at Sharon Baptist Church, 2221 S. Oliver, Wichita, KS 67218.
In lieu of flowers, Geraldean requested that donations be made to her church home, Sharon Baptist Church. To send an online condolence, please go to www.evansfh.com.
Services are under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
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