Margaret Baker

Margaret (nee: Appel) Baker

Margaret Baker, 96, passed away peacefully in her home in Canyon, Texas, on June 7, 2026. Born on September 4, 1929 on a farm near Shattuck, Oklahoma to Emanuel and Martha (Renner) Appel, she was the eldest of six children. She graduated from Bishop High School in 1948, a country school of seven students.

On July 4, 1950, Margaret married Clyde Maurice Baker of Darrouzett, Texas. Together, they shared 32 years of marriage, living in several states and spending 14 years abroad in British Columbia, Greece, Venezuela, and Ghana, West Africa, while supporting Clyde's engineering and construction work. Margaret often joked that she "spent half of her life with her head in a packing box". Wherever life took them, she created a welcoming home and treasured the friendships that she made along the way.

After Clyde's passing in 1982, Margaret settled in Canyon, Texas. She was a lifetime member of the Methodist Church, the University Study Club, and the Panhandle Plains Museum Auxiliary. She loved reading, sewing, and working in her flower gardens. One of her favorite activities was traveling, and she embarked on many tours with bus groups and with her daughter, Marti. She and her family especially enjoyed visiting their condominium in Ocean Shores, Washington.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, husband Clyde, son Michael Baker, and brothers Harry Appel and Jim Appel.

She is survived by her daughter Marti (Doug) McDowell, four grandchildren: Renae Baker, Michael (Samantha) McDowell, Kevin McDowell and Christopher McDowell, two great grandchildren: Melanie Margaret and Natalie Diana McDowell, sisters Ruth Sutherland and Darlene Stricker, brother Larry (Judith) Appel, and many nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held at a later date.