With a joyful heart, moved to her heavenly home on Aug. 22, 2025, just six days before her 92nd birthday. She had no fear of death, as she had been preparing all her life for the inevitable change. All of her confidence was placed in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and when the summons came, she passed away as peacefully as twilight falls upon a perfect day.
Kara Jeneane was born in Fort Scott, Kansas on August 28, 1933, to Earl Marion and Billie Douglass Wood. Growing up on a small farm with two brothers gave her plenty of opportunities to explore and enjoy the outdoors. She walked to a one-room country school and was a good student, but always admitted recess was the best part of her day. She loved sports and never
missed a chance to get in a game. While in her forties, she played softball and volleyball on
her daughter’s teams. Literally until her last day, she watched the Royals games on TV and could tell you all about the players.
One unique ability she had was saying the alphabet backwards. Being left-handed, she often did things backwards. So her dad bet her that she couldn’t learn the letters in reverse order. She did! Another of her special abilities was to recall details. At the age of 90, she wrote a book about her life which was published and distributed to family and friends.
Kara Jeneane married her childhood sweetheart, James Oliver Baker, on Valentine’s Day, 1953. They moved to Colorado and lived in a little mountain cabin with no running water or electricity. She loved it! After daughter, Linda, was born they moved back to Fort Scott where she and J. O. made their home until moving to a little family cabin at Crawford State Park in 2014. Watching wildlife was one of her passions and living at the lake suited her just fine.
Throughout her life, her optimism and kind heart touched many lives. She always found the good in every circumstance and every person. It would be fair to say she never met a stranger.
She greatly enjoyed vacationing in Branson and going on camping trips all across the country with her daughter. She never turned down a chance for adventure!
Kara Jeneane spent ten years working in the “Behavior Disorder” room at Eugene Ware Elementary and had a heart for helping those who were struggling. She enjoyed teaching Sunday School, being a Room Mother, leading 4-H project meetings, organizing family parties, and taking meals to anyone who might need them. Kara Jeneane was a member of the Farlington Methodist Church and attended as long as she was physically able. She battled the effects of pesticide poisoning for 28 years and never missed a chance to share non-toxic options for pest and weed control
Survivors include the three children who were born to Kara Jeneane and J. O. Baker: Linda Jeneane Baker of Fort Scott, Connie Jo (Brent) Malone also of Fort Scott, and Dr. Michael Pierce (Becky) Baker of Crawford State Park. Also surviving are grandchildren Bethany Baker, Lexington, Kentucky, Jordan Baker, Lenexa, Adam (Megan) Malone, Aaron (Amber) Malone, and Alyssa (Matt) Glades all of Fort Scott. She is also survived by 8 great grandchildren: Londyn, Rhiley, Trey, Dayton, and Lucas Malone, Bishop and Maddox Glades, and Alexia Robinson. She dearly loved her family and cherished the moments she got to spend with them. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Dr. Robert Wood and Jack Wood, and her husband, J. O.
A private family service will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Beyond Pesticides, 701 E. St. SE, Washington, D. C. 20003 or to the Farlington Methodist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words or remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
Although Kara Jeneane will be greatly missed by her family and friends, we rejoice in knowing we will all be together again in Heaven some day.