There was much rejoicing in heaven on the night of October 24, 2024 when our sweet mother who loved, and was loved by God, left us to join her heavenly family. She was just days shy of being 97.
Vivian was born on November 2, 1927 in Stillwater, TX to Thomas Caldwell & Willie Mae Shockley Caldwell. She was one of seven children born to Thomas & Willie and to her great sorrow was the last survivor of her siblings. In her early childhood the family moved from Texas to Sulphur, OK where she attended school until the age of 16. It was there she met and later married the love of her life Byron K. Baker who was in the Army and stationed nearby. They were married on August 24, 1944 and two weeks later Byron was shipped overseas to fight in WWII. She didn’t see him for two years. She lived in Oklahoma with her parents until Byron was discharged from the Army and, soon after, they moved to Culbertson, MT.
Mother’s strong and unwavering faith in God sustained her through the huge shift in that monumental life change as well as in all the changes to come. Welcoming them to eastern Montana was the Baker family who loved her immediately yet, understandably, she missed her childhood home and family. Their own family grew soon when, in January 1947 Shirley was born in Williston, ND and in December of that same year Sharon was born in Missoula, MT. A new state, new family, moving again and two babies in one year had to be exhausting and overwhelming but we never heard her complain about that, or really much of anything, in her lifetime. That’s just who she was; a strong, resilient and sweet person who loved everyone and whom everyone loved in return. Missoula was where two boys, Larry (1950) & Mike (1952), were welcomed into the family as well. A few short years later they packed up and moved back to the Culbertson area. There was extensive packing and traveling (with 4 kids!) for the multiple moves the family made but, there again, Mom never complained.
In 1961 when a job opportunity came up for Dad at Seeley Lake, MT, it was our newest destination. Mom loved the new mountain location where she worked as a cashier at a local grocery store and made many lifelong friends during that time. In 1969, after the kids were mostly grown and gone, Mom &Dad moved one last time; to Helena where they lived out their final years.
Dad hauled and sold lumber all over the state and Mom was always at his side. They both loved the Lord, music and singing and it was their ministry to travel the state where they’d sing and preach the gospel throughout their ‘retirement years’. Mother wrote several of her own gospel songs and many lives were touched whenever she sang them. Often Dad would say “Vivian, we’re going to (wherever it was)” and she’d immediately start packing for the trip because most of the time they were leaving that same day! Obviously, by this time she was excellent at packing!
Mother loved the Lord and dedicated her life to Him, her kids and her grandchildren. Each of them adored her and stopped by frequently and even more often after Dad’s passing in 2010.
In her younger days she enjoyed gardening, camping, flowers, being outdoors and again….music & singing. She loved music into her final hours where listening to a gospel hymn would softly soothe her. Later in life a puzzle was usually found on the table of her home where anyone and everyone was welcome to drop by for a visit and add a piece or two. Her home was a welcoming place where you could find love, encouragement, understanding and usually a meal or, at the very least, a piece of ‘heavenly pie’.
In her nineties she stated she was “quite capable” of living alone but safety at that age is a concern so Shirley and Jeff lived with Mom to provide care which, for the most part, was mainly companionship and supervision.
For all she was, and who she was, she will be greatly missed by so many.
Vivian is preceded in death by her parents and siblings. She is survived by her daughters Shirley (Jeff) Schilling, Sharon (Mike) Pickens, sons Larry (Judy) Baker and Mike (Dalena) Baker and special loved ones Dan and Lynnae Bright. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and many extended family members and loved ones in Montana as well as Oklahoma.
Special thanks to the staff at St Peter’s Health and Mount Ascension who took gentle care of her.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held on Nov 7th at 11:00 at the Echo church in Helena. She will be laid to rest beside Byron, her lifelong sweetheart, at the Fort Harrison Veteran’s cemetery at a later date.
Sandy and Deb Green says
Vivian was such a precious soul who exuded the love of the love of Christ! We were honored to be called her “kids” and always looked forward to her special hugs!! She will be missed by so many but Heaven is rejoicing!
Bev Roope says
One of the sweetest souls that i have been blessed to have known.
Betty Poucher says
Nothing I can say will ease your pain, but I am forever sorry for losing someone so special.
Vivian was a child of God, there is no question in my mind about that.
She was one of the dearest people I have ever known and what a gramma to us all! whenever I visited in person or by phone, if I had any kind of problem or didn’t feel quite up to snuff, in the next second she was praying over me.
Wishing you peace and comfort.
Michele Reinhard says
It is with such sadness I heard of Viv’s passing. I met Viv somewhere in 70’s with Lynnae and my goodness she was always such a blessing, so upbeat, so kind and giving. Viv had only one fault – she loved Gabe’s homemade cheese cake & said it was the only thing in life she wasn’t willing to share 🙂 though she always did anyway. Her faith and the way she lived was such an inspiration to me, she never faltered!! If I could become even half the woman she was, I would be blessed. I’m SO thankful I was able to see her in my recent trip back to Montana and also thankful that Shirley, Jeff, Sharon, Mike, Larry, Judy, Mike, Dalena and Lynnae and Dan have each other and the Lord to lean on during this time of sadness yet rejoicing. I believe God sends us Angels and he sent us Viv. I have been truly blessed by having known her and will miss her.
Angela L says
I am so sorry for your loss. She was always so nice and ready to have a quick conversation whenever we saw her booking it to the mail box ☺️. I was always in awe of how independent and capable she was at her age. Big hugs to all of you!
Sharon L. Nelson says
I was so blessed to say Vivian was my neighbor. She helped me through the loss of my husband Ray and was such a caring person. We lived across the street from each other in McHugh. Sending prayers to all the family and friends.