Kay Baker passed away peacefully on July 30, 2022, in the company of her family following complications from several chronic illnesses.

Kay was born January 15, 1942, in Springfield, MO and was the daughter of the late Aliene (McCroskey) Elson and Arnold Dillard. Kay Elson attended Central High School in Springfield where she graduated in 1959. While in school she worked at Springfield Bakery where she met her future husband, William (Bill) Baker. Kay and Bill were married in Miami, OK on September 24, 1961. In 1970 the family moved to the Willard area where they raised two sons, Jeffrey (Jeff) of Springfield and Jason of Minneapolis, MN and where Kay was an active participant in many school-related parent organizations.

Kay worked for over 30 years for the City of Springfield, most notably as the Secretary to several Directors of Aviation at the Springfield-Branson National Airport, from which she retired in 2001. Never one to take things easy, she did not remain retired for long and had worked full-time for the past 17 years at Bn’T Loan, L.L.C., a company started by her brother-in-law, Bob Baker.

Kay was very smart and creative and enjoyed the opportunity to share her passion for the culinary arts by baking elaborately decorated birthday and wedding cakes for friends, family and acquaintances and as a part-time business. She enjoyed puzzles of all kinds but was particularly fond of crosswords. While she fostered a reputation for being pragmatic and to the point, those that knew her well knew her as a good-natured and fun person who adored her grandchildren and the family pets – although she would never admit to the latter!

Kay was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her mother, Aliene; her sister, Linda Alva and her first grandchild, Jackson. She is survived by her two sons, Jeff (and wife Jill) and Jason; three grandchildren, Juliette, Jenna and John; her sister-in-law, Gwen Baker; and many adored nieces (including her boss at Bn’T Loan, Shelley (Baker) Washam), nephews, cousins and co-workers.

Following a private family ceremony at Clear Creek cemetery, friends and co-workers are invited to join the family to celebrate Kay’s life and legacy on Saturday, August 13, 2022 between 5:00pm and 7:00pm.  To honor her long-time service, the celebration will be held in the Rob Hancik Room at the Premier Flight Center located on the south side of the old Springfield Regional Airport terminal at 5000 W Kearney St.  Please visit kay‑baker‑celebrationoflife.eventbrite.com for more details.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Kay’s name to a worthy charity of the donor’s choice.