Judith Baker Obituary
Judith Ann Baker, 81, of Burlington, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at Great River Medical Center. Judy was born on September 10, 1943. Her parents were Dana Woodrow “Woody” Payne and Audrey Marie Ochiltree Payne. She was raised in Burlington and attended local Catholic schools and graduated from Notre Dame High School. After graduation, she went to work at Champion Spark Plug. During that time, she met and married Benjamin Keith Carpenter and had two daughters. They later divorced. She later married James Eugene Bessine and resigned from Champion, after 20 years, so she could stay home to raise their blended family which included his two children, Scott and Tracy Bessine. After 12 years of marriage, they divorced.
She was of the Christian faith. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends. And in her more active years enjoyed gardening, attending church on Sundays, decorating and keeping a tidy house and was an avid bowler. She was even known to have done some local modeling, and she could rock a leopard print like no other!
She was a caretaker to many of her family members and friends; and she never knew a stranger, even inviting them to her home for family holidays when they had nowhere else to go. She thoroughly enjoyed life with her grandchildren and great grandchildren who all affectionately called her “Shooby”.
Later in life, she married Clarence Baker; they were married for 10 years before he passed.
Left to swap stories and share laughter of wonderful memories are her daughters, Monique Bohlen and Michelle (Jeff) Pence; grandchildren, Mercedes Floyd, Max Bohlen and Jaedyn Pence; great grandchildren, Caeden, Landen and Berkeley Ott; one brother Mark “Sparky” Payne; nieces and nephews and extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters Marie Inghram and Deborah Payne and her husband Clarence.
A Celebration of Life to be scheduled for a later time.