Marilyn Delra (Strode) Baker, age 83, died on March 17, surrounded by family, following a brave battle with unexpected health issues over the past year.

She was born in 1943, the only child of her beloved parents Monroe and Lucille (Summers) Strode. She grew up in East St. Louis before attending college at Southern Illinois University, graduating with a degree in accounting. She then moved to the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, where she would live almost all of her adult life, before spending her final decade in the suburbs of Washington, DC to be closer to her daughter and family.

Marilyn started her career as an accountant at a time when she most often was the only woman in the room. She continued her accounting career for almost two decades, before taking time away to raise and focus on her daughter, Michelle. During her time away from the office, Marilyn devoted herself to volunteering with her daughter's school, the church, Girl Scouts, and a variety of other organizations. She then began the second part of her career, serving as the treasurer of Manchester United Methodist Church, then with the St. Louis Children's Choir, and finally retiring from the St. Louis Symphony.

Despite her many work and volunteer activities, she found her greatest joy caring for and spending time with family and friends. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, stepmother, step grandmother, and friend to so many. Her friendships were so important to her, and the word "friend" does not adequately convey the special relationship she and her family have with her friends.

She is survived by her daughter Michelle (Baker) Schmitt, her son-in-law Brian Schmitt, granddaughters Sophia and Lucille Schmitt, her stepchildren and their spouses, Deborah (Baker) and John Haasis, James and Susan Baker, Richard and Peggy Baker, and Linda Baker, along with numerous cherished step grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert Maurice Baker, and her stepson Ross Baker.

Services: A memorial service will be at Manchester United Methodist Church, Friday, April 24 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcome to two of her most loved St. Louis institutions: The Missouri Botanical Garden and The Saint Louis Zoo .

As a service of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schader.com.