Diane Kay Baker
Diane Kaye Baker passed away on June 22, 2026, in Davis, California, of Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
Born on February 26, 1942, in Springfield, Illinois, Diane was the only child of James and Cita Poole. She attended Springfield High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois, where she met her husband, John “Jay” Baker, whom she was married to for 63 years. While at Illinois College, Diane was a member of the Gamma Delta Literary Society and the Drama Club, appearing in several theatrical productions.
Diane loved being an Air Force wife. Having grown up in Springfield, she welcomed the opportunity to move around the United States during Jay’s military career. Along the way, she sang with the Skylarks in Hawaii and worked in a library in Bend, Oregon. After Jay’s retirement, the couple traveled throughout the world, satisfying Diane’s curiosity about different cultures.
After she and Jay settled in Georgetown, Texas, she enjoyed taking classes through Southwestern University. An avid reader, Diane was rarely without a book and often had several underway at once. She was also a gifted writer who enjoyed writing poetry. Each year at Veterans Day and Memorial Day observances, she shared a moving poem she had written honoring prisoners of war and those missing in action. She also enjoyed entertaining, shopping, live theater, and foreign films and television programs. Her annual St. Patrick’s Day party became a tradition where she welcomed many guests into her home and she always made corned beef and cabbage. A devoted Catholic, she attended Mass every Sunday. She was also a lifelong animal lover and supported animal welfare causes and made sure her home always included a variety of pets.
But her greatest gift was her ability to connect with others. She was known for “never meeting a stranger.” Her ability to connect with people enabled her to form friendships wherever life took her.
Affectionately known as “Nana,” she treasured every moment spent with her six grandchildren and great-grandsons. Diane is survived by her children, Michael (Julie), Michelle “Shelley,” and Kevin (Lisa); her grandchildren, Josh (Rosie), Chad (Rachelle), Tyler, Kaitlyn (Drake), Reese, and Zach; and her great-grandsons, Joshua and Chad.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation: https://www.parkinson.org or to the Ironwood Pig Sanctuary: https://www.ironwoodpigs.org/, a place Diane always hoped to visit. A Catholic Mass will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on 08/07 at 11 AM, and her funeral service will take place at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, CA on 08/07 at 1:30 PM.