Seventh Generation

3422. Ruby Inez HEFNER was born on 8 February 1918 in Catawba County, North Carolina.¹⁹⁷⁹ She died on 17 July 2004 at the age of 86 in Catawba Valley Medical Center, Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina. She was buried in St. John's Lutheran Church (MO Synod) Cemetery, Conover, Catawba County, NC. Her obituary appeared as follows: CONOVER - Mrs. Ruby Inez Hefner Baker, 85, of Conover, passed away Saturday, July 17, 2004, at Catawba Valley Medical Center. Born Feb. 8, 1919, in Catawba County, she was the daughter of the late Lonnie Edgar and Dona Leona Turner Hefner. She was a homemaker and member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Conover. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Eugene Baker; six sisters, Goldie Baker, Nina Shook, Tressie Kauffman, Edith Eckard, Frankie Miller and an infant, Violet May Hefner; three brothers, Mernie, Ervin and Gentry Hefner; and a granddaughter, Loree Diane Baker. Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Willine and Clarence Austin of Hickory and Kathleen and Zane Ikerd and Darlene Baker of Conover; three sons and daughters-in-law, Seth and Brenda Baker of Asheville, Leon and Ramona Baker of Hickory and Jerry and Garry Baker of the home; a sister, Alda Bolick of Hickory; two brothers, Elton Hefner of Hickory and Walter Hefner of Taylorsville; eight grandchildren, Melissa Barringer, Tim Austin, Karen Morrow, Greg Baker, Kristi Thomas, David Baker, Matthew Baker and Amanda Ikerd; 13 great-grandchildren and another expected in February; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, 2004, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Conover. The body will be placed in the church from 1:30 to 2 p.m., prior to the service. The Revs. Scott Johnson and Anton Lagountine will officiate and burial will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends tonight, Monday, July 19, 2004, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the church. Pallbearers will be David Baker, Greg Baker, Tim Austin, Matthew Baker, Chris Barringer, Neil Baker and Walter Morrow. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Building Fund, 2126 St. John’s Church Road, Conover, N.C. 28613. The family has entrusted arrangements to Drum Funeral Home and Cremations in Conover. [Hickory Daily Record - Sunday, July 18, 2004]

Ruby Inez HEFNER and Leonard Eugene BAKER were married on 4 February 1935. Leonard Eugene BAKER, son of Fester Eugene BAKER and Zettie Elizabeth CLINE, was born on 17 September 1912.^788,1979 He died at his residence on 23 May 2002 at the age of 89 in Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina. He was buried in St. John's Lutheran Church (MO Synod) Cemetery, Conover, Catawba County, NC. His obituary appeared as follows: NEWTON - Hazel Baker Sigmon, 96, of Abernethy Laurels, died Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004, at Abernethy Laurels. Born May 17, 1908, in Catawba County, she was the daughter of the late Caswell Layfette and Myrtle Sigmon Baker. She was a homemaker and a member of St. James Lutheran Church in Newton, where she had been active in the Senior Citizen’s Group and the Women of the ELCA. She was also a former member of the Duan Home Demonstration Club. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Nelson Sigmon; two brothers, Howard Baker and Cecil Baker; and three sisters, Zelda Whitener, Willie Yount and Ruth Baker. Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law, Linda Sigmon Meadlock and Janice Elmore and husband, Donald, of Newton; a granddaughter, Donna Elmore York and husband, Kelly, of Mebane; a great-granddaughter, Lauren York of Mebane; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Lorene Hunsucker and husband, Dewey, of Conover and Irene Campbell and husband, William, of Newton; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Henry of Newton; and a brother-in-law, Gaither Yount of Conover. A Service of Remembrance will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, at St. James Lutheran Church in Newton. Pastor James Zimmerman will be officiating, and burial will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Harold Baker, Fred Baker, Kelly York, Paul Yount, Dan Hunsucker and Ronald Ramsey. The family will receive friends on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. at the church. Memorials may be made to St. James Lutheran Church, 1942 St. James Church Road, Newton, N.C. 28658. The Sigmon family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. [Hickory Daily Record - Thursday, September 23, 2004]

Ruby Inez HEFNER and Leonard Eugene BAKER had the following children:

+5658	i.	Zettie Willene BAKER.
+5659	ii.	Leonard Seth BAKER.
+5660	iii.	Robert Leon BAKER.
+5661	iv.	Frances Kathleen BAKER.
5662	v.	Jerry Cline BAKER (private).
5663	vi.	Garry Hefner BAKER (private).
5664	vii.	Darlene Annette Baker BAKER was born on 4 March 1960 in Catawba County, North Carolina. She died on 30 December 2008 at the age of 48 in Catawba Valley Medical Center, Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina. Her obituary appeared as follows: Darlene Annette Baker, 48, of Conover died Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at Catawba Valley Medical Center. Born on March 4, 1960 in Catawba County, she was the daughter of the late Leonard Eugene Baker and Ruby Inez Hefner Baker. Darlene graduated from the Davis School of Nursing and graduated Cum Laude from Lenoir-Rhyne University with a Bachelor of Science Degree. She was a devoted nurse who dedicated her life to helping others and worked for Catawba Valley Medical Center for over 25 years. Darlene was a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Conover. She is survived by her sisters, Willine Austin and her husband Clarence of Hickory and Kathleen Ikerd and her husband Zane of Conover; brothers, Seth Baker and his wife Brenda of Asheville, Leon Baker and his wife Ramona of Conover, Jerry Baker of Conover and Garry Baker of Conover; nieces and nephews, Melissa Barringer and her husband Chris of Hickory, Tim Austin and his wife Tina of Hickory, Amanda Ikerd of Conover, Karen Morrow and her husband Walter of Winston-Salem, Greg Baker and his wife Karen of Cumming, GA, Kristi Thomas and her husband Terry of Newton, David Baker of Conover and Matthew Baker and his wife Deloris of Franklin; 15 great-nieces and great-nephews; and one great-great-nephew. A Service of Remembrance will be held 3:00 p.m., Saturday, January 3, 2009 at St. John’s Lutheran Church with the Reverend Anton Lagoutine officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:00-2:45 p.m. at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 2126 St. John’s Church Rd., Conover, NC 28613. The Baker family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home & Cremations in Conover. She was buried in St. John's Lutheran Church (MO Synod) Cemetery, Conover, Catawba County, NC.