Obituary

Newton Kansan

July 3, 2004
Section: obits


Emily Lois (Harmison) Baker

St. Paul -- Emily Lois (Harmison) Baker, 88, died Wednesday (June 30, 2004) at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul.


She was born July 30, 1915, in Independence to Lafayette and Gertrude (Huffmire) Thomas.

The family moved to Sapulpa, Okla., in 1916 and Chanute in 1917, then to Newton in 1921. She graduated from Newton High School in 1933 and married Harold Harmison in 1935. He preceded her in death in 1968.

She worked as a telephone operator during World War II and later helped with the family business at Harmison Service Station at First and Allison streets. She also served as a receptionist at Bethel Hospital.

She married James Baker of Peabody in 1973. He preceded her in death in 1996.

In November 2002, she moved to Kansas Christian Home in Newton and then to Prairie Mission Village in St. Paul in March 2004.

She was a member of First Baptist Church of Newton and active in church activities, Scouting, community music activities, arts and crafts.

Survivors include: a brother, James D. Thomas of Eugene, Ore.; and three sons, Harold R. Harmison of Oxnard, Calif., Randall L. Harmison of Erie and Thomas T. Harmison of Marble Falls, Texas.

She also was preceded in death by: two brothers, Eldon Thomas and Verdun Thomas; and an infant sister, Doris Jean.

Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at Petersen's Funeral Home.

Graveside service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Greenwood Cemetery. Memorial services will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church with Pastor Timothy Conner officiating.

A memorial has been established with First Baptist Church in care of the funeral hom