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Leona Cleopha Zumbaum Baker

Leona Cleopha Zumbaum Baker entered into Eternal Rest 6/18/2016 in the presence of her son, William Carlin Baker and Houston Hospice staff. Cleopha Baker was helped into this world on May 26, 1920 by Sister Cleopha at the Sacred Hearts Hospital in Yankton South Dakota. She resided in Mission Hill South Dakota for her first seven years. The Family then moved near Box Elder S. Dak in the southwest corner of what became the Elswick airforce base. Cleopha lived there with her parents growing family until in her twentieth year, She relocated to her Aunt Alma Mac Donalds Chicken Hatchery. In 1942 She met William Robert Baker in connection with the hatchery. He came in to buy chicken feed. The two corresponded during the war, and Married January 6, 1946.

During the course of the marraige, they had two Children. Martha Ann Baker came along in 1948 and William Carlin Baker in 1951. Both born in Ferrall hospital. For a few years she was the wife of a Galatia High School teacher until Shell Oil Company got him in late 1951. He worked for Shell the next thirty years until retirement in 1981. He first worked in the Woodriver Refinery, and then transfered to Houston where he finished out. Cleopha retired at that time also. She had in that time become a licensed beauty operater, a Raliegh salesman, a bakery worker, and worked in the Woodriver Hospital cafeteria, and then for the school cafeterias in Richmond near Houston.

Cleopha later resided near her son in Houston proper.In later years she remembered her wonderful life growing up on a nineteen thirties family owned dairy farm. From her stories, one could see a wonderful life dispite the dust bowl years, and the Great depression.

Cleopha is preceeded in death by her parents William Zumbaum and Lyndall Leona Ashbrook Zumbaum and their brothers and sisters, also two of her brothers William Casper Zumbaum and his wife Mary Francis, and Robert Maurice Zumbaum and his wife Cathren; and Cleopha's Husband.

Cleopha leaves behind two sisters Lyndall Joan Snow and Zeta Jean Beck, and her younger brother Kenneth Karl Zumbaum and the plethera of all her brothers and sisters children; the Daughter (Her husband Earl "Butch" Coward predeceases), Grand-Daughter Pennie Lynn Williams, and Great-Grandson Trace Alexander Williams; Grandson Eric Scott Campbell, Great-Grandson Hunter Campbell. Cleopha also Leaves behind her Son with his wife Bonnie, Grand-Daughter Carlie Fay Ray, CPA with her husband Ryan, and Great-Grandson Ronin Jaxon Ray, and Great-Grand daughter Kira Ember Ray.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 1:00 PM at the Watson Funeral Home. Burial will be in Wolf Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 11:00 Am until service time of 1:00 PM.

On line condolences may be sent to the family at watsonfuneralhome.net