Shelley Joyce Baker

Our beloved Shelley Joyce Baker, age 32, died unexpectedly in her sleep on December 28, 2023, in her hometown of Jonestown, Texas. Shelley was born on a snowy winter night in Fort Collins, Colorado. She was the first child of Susan and Mark Baker, followed by her sister Cassandra Baker, and brother Nicholas Baker, all of whom are missing her dearly. So too are her grandmother who helped raise her, Carol Ann Murphy, her cousin and closest friend, Jenni Kitay, and her dear son Carson, who resides with his father. From an early age, Shelley had a flare for anything creative. She loved making up songs to fit a situation, like going on a family trip or taking a walk at night. She loved art making up stories and getting books from the library. She excelled in creative writing in school and wrote for pleasure almost every day of her life. Active in sports, she was a "flyer" on the cheerleading squad, and despite being quite short, did well on the track team at Leander High School. But Shelley's favorite aspiration was acting, and she was outstanding in any project she took on. She got a kick out of the fact that her first paycheck ever was from Universal Studios (she had been an extra on a popular TV series). She had the most fun, though, when she and her sister Cassie wowed the crowd with their skills in acting classes they took together at Gateway Church. She adored her younger sister and brother and was fiercely protective of them. Shelley enjoyed sports, and was an absolute fanatic for the Denver Broncos, even taking a trip to Colorado mainly to visit Mile High Stadium. Besides watching games with her friends, she liked cooking for them, grilling in the park, and making a party out of everyday occasions. For the past three years, she hosted potluck Thanksgiving dinners in a local park for her friends and anyone who wandered by and wanted a plate of food. Jobs she had varied: office manager, house cleaner, bartender, self-employed web designer, to name a few. She was good at them but didn't maintain them for long. Shelley suffered from some physical health issues, anxiety, and other mental health challenges which could be debilitating at times. She readily shared that about herself, unafraid of stigma. Shelley was a kind and empathetic young woman, who practiced walking in other people's shoes (often literally!) If she saw a homeless person, she would bow her head and say a silent prayer, and every time she heard sirens, she would pray for "everyone involved". She always asked store cashiers and food servers how their day was going, and would really listen to their answer. It often led to a short conversation ending with smiles. You could talk to Shelley about anything and know you were being understood, and that someone really cared. And her wide-ranging, easy sense of humor got people to join in, and find a funny aspect of almost any situation. She had a knack for breaking an awkward silence with some well-timed quip - saying the quiet part out loud - and cracking everyone up. She loved animals and took good care of her many pets over the years, and usually took her chihuahua wherever she went. At a rally in Austin not too long ago, random people were snapping pictures of the pretty girl with the silly little dog's head sticking out of her backpack. There was an aura about Shelley so strong it was almost visible. People were compulsively drawn to her. She was a contradiction; a down-to-Earth socialite sans the money, but with plenty of je ne sais quoi. A fortifier of people when they were weak or unsure or sad, she looked down on no one and found the good in everyone. Oh, how we all love and miss you, sweet Shelley Belle.

Shelley Joyce Baker

February 25, 1991 - December 28, 2023