Patricia Monen (Rackley) Baker

Patricia (Pat) Monen Rackley Baker was born on August 16, 1933, in Emhouse, Texas to parents Louis Monen and Martha Howard DeLafosse Rackley. When she was a young girl, Pat and her family moved out to Plainview, Texas where she grew up and went to school.

At the age of 17, Pat met J.B. Baker at a high school dance. J.B. was 7 years older, but because there was a shortage of young men in the area, he and other young men attended the dance so the young ladies would have dancing partners. Well, as they say, it was love at first sight. Not long after, J.B. asked Pat to be his wife. However, they had to wait until after she graduated from high school. So, on September 13, 1950, they married.

In 1965, J.B. and Pat moved to Lebanon, Missouri along with their four sons where Pat not only maintained the household, but she also worked as a bookkeeper for the local Chevrolet dealership, Detroit Toll & Dye, and Shadel’s Colonial Chapel. She remained a bookkeeper for many years in addition to serving as the treasurer of Antioch Baptist Church.

Pat and J.B. moved to Dallas nearly 20 years ago to be near family where they enjoyed holidays, birthdays, special events and weekly Sunday dinners. One of Pat’s favorite yearly events was the Christmas party at Leland and Ben’s home because she got to see and visit with so many friends who treated her like the Queen Mother.

Pat was a member of Hunters Glen Baptist Church. She loved the weekly card game at Hunters Glen where she and her son, Leland, went every Monday night, and where she won more games than anybody else. It was a rare night that she did not win or come in second.

Pat was blessed to have lived for many years on Bamburgh Drive in Plano where she served as the “defacto” grandmother for all the children on the street who loved coming to her house for a hug or to deliver hand drawn pictures.

When J.B. was still living, he and Pat enjoyed travelling around in their travel trailer and enjoyed many trips to Dallas to see their sons and all-around Texas visiting many relatives. One of their favorite trips was to the Baker Family Reunion held every year in Altus, Oklahoma. A trip that Pat was able to make one last time nearly two years ago. It was a highlight for her to get to see so many familiar faces and share many stories from the past.

Pat went to be with Jesus on November 20, 2025. She leaves behind three sons Ronald (Ron) Lee Baker (Diane), Glenn Louis Baker (Shirley) and Joseph Leland Baker (Ben Mitchell). She also leaves two grandchildren, Kelsey Baker Sawyer (Brad), Jentry Baker, a “chosen” grandson, Shane Pratt, and three great grandchildren. Pat was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Joseph Burl Baker, and a son, Brian Leslie Baker.

There will be a one-hour visitation from 10-11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 25, 2025, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m., at Allen Family Funeral Options. If you wish to join the service via webcast, please visit: 

Pat will be laid to rest with her husband at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at the Dallas/Ft Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Paula Deen’s The Bag Lady Foundation at: https://www.pauladeen.com/the-bag-lady/