RaVenna Baker Obituary (1921 - 2018)

RaVenna Leigh Baker’s spirit left this earth on Monday, September 17, 2018. Born January 28, 1921 in Cedar City, Utah RaVenna was the 9th and last surviving child of William H. Leigh and Ella Berry Leigh. She received her BS degree from University of Utah in 1943. While at the U of U she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. During that time, she also registered in the civil air patrol, received her private pilot’s license and organized a flying club for women. In the summer of 1943 she was accepted in the Women’s Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) program. While serving in the Armed Forces she met and married one of her flight instructors, Elbert (Al) Thompson Fisher. After he was released from the US Air Force, they made their home in Cedar City, where they had four children. They owned and operated the AA Cab Company and a gas station in Cedar. Later Al owned a construction company while RaVenna managed the Leigh Hotel and Piute Café. Later they moved to Las Vegas, and owned and operated an appliance store. After Al died in 1962, RaVenna co-owned the Hotel-Motel Supply Co. In 1968, RaVenna met and married Harry J. Baker, Jr., an Illinois pharmacist. She sold her business in Las Vegas and moved to Champaign, Illinois. She became a licensed pharmacy technician and, with Harry, owned and operated several independent pharmacies in central Illinois. When Harry’s health began to fail, they decided to move to Cedar City. RaVenna became an officer of the American Legion Post 74 and worked on the committee to design the WWII memorial that is in the Veterans Park in Cedar City. She assisted Harry as he initiated the Arthritis Aquatic program at SUU and, after his death, became a certified instructor so she could keep his program going. She and Harry were also active in the Masons and the Eastern Star, both in Illinois and in Cedar City. RaVenna was Worthy Matron of the Cedar Chapter from 1992-1996. RaVenna was active in the Mormon Church for decades, serving as Cub Scout Leader, and as both a Primary and a Relief Society teacher. She loved to travel, play bridge and read. RaVenna is survived by her son Fred and his wife Claudia (Seattle, WA), her son William (Salt Lake City, UT), her son Ronald and his wife, Lilli (Yuba City, CA) and her daughter Rebecca (Austin, TX) as well as seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her energy, wit and curiosity will be missed by the many who knew and loved her. Her funeral service will be held on Friday, September 21 2018 at 11:00 am, at the Cedar 2nd Ward (256 S 900 W, Cedar City, UT). There will be a viewing prior to the services, on Friday, September 21 from 9:45 – 10:45 am at Cedar 2nd Ward. Interment will in the Cedar City Cemetery, under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary.