Mrs. Bertha Dean Upshaw Baker, 93of Etowah, TN passed away Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at her home peacefully, surrounded by her family. She was born and raised in Etowah and a daughter of the late William Thomas and Bertha Beatrice Moore Upshaw of Etowah.

Preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Robert W. "Bob" Baker, Sr.; her siblings, 5 brothers, Albert, Jack, Thomas, George and Floyd Upshaw; 2 sisters, Frances Gilliam and Ruth Duffy; and one infant great-grandson, Scott Emmitt Colson.

Mrs. Baker was born and raised in Etowah; she attended Etowah City Schools and graduated from TWC in Athens. She then received a medical technology degree from GA Evening College and Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. She would ride the L&N Train from Etowah to Atlanta and back several times a week for several months, and then lived with her aunt in Atlanta until she graduated. Bertha Dean and Bob were married on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941. She was a homemaker, and then worked with her husband at Baker's Market grocery for several years. She also kept preschool children in her home from 1971-1993 for teachers and other working mothers. Mrs. Baker was a Brownie Scout and a Girl Scout leader in Etowah from 1953-1964. She attended Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Etowah from her infancy, where her parents were founding members in 1906. She kept the nursery for over 50 years, served on the administrative board, was active in the United Methodist Women, having served as a local and district officer, and was a Sunday school teacher and a leader for the United Methodist Youth group for 14 years. She enjoyed working in her garden, canning and preserving fruits and vegetables, baking, sharing her pecan crop with family and friends. She was an expert seamstress and enjoyed all varieties of needlework. Mrs. Baker also taught kindergarten, was a substitute school teacher, and was featured in the DPA's Cooking Corner column. The Baker family would like to thank all her caregivers at Woods Rehabilitation Center and at Amedysis Hospice for making her and her family's life richer and blessed.

Survivors include, Son and daughter-in-law, Robert W. and Charlcia Waldrop Baker, Jr. of Riceville, TN; Daughters and son-in-law, Katherine Anne and David Carroll of Athens, TN and Elaine B. Colson of Etowah, TN; Grandsons and spouses, Kevin and Hollie Baker of Riceville, TN, Justin and Karen Baker of Englewood, TN, Noah and Danetta Colson of Dayton, TN, Greg and Beth Colson of Hermitage, TN; Great-grandchildren, Jason, Matthew, and Melanie Colson, Lachlan, Mauren, and Halen Baker, Melia, Kellan, McCain, and Reagan Baker, David, Katherine, Jewell and John Baker Colson.

Funeral service will be held at 8:00 p.m., Monday, December, 2 2013, in the South Chapel of Bordwine Funeral Home with Pastor Aaron Pierce and Rev. Ron Allen will officiating. Family will receive friends from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, prior to the service. Family and friends will assemble at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December, 3rd at the funeral home and proceed to Green Hill Cemetery for the 11:00 a.m. committal service. Kevin Baker, Justin Baker, Noah Colson, Greg Colson, Howard Johnson and Drew Johnson will serve as pallbearers. Memorials may be made to Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 306, Etowah, TN 37331 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000 Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908.