Lois Eleanor (Moorby) Baker

Passed away peacefully at Bloomington Cove Care Community, Stouffville on June 4, 2026 at the age of 87 years.  Loved and missed by her husband of 66 years; Ross Baker.  Loving mother of Dr. Leslie Baker (Robert McKinley), Sandra Baker and Graham Baker (Rosie).  Cherished grandma of Abigayle and Clare.  Also survived by her sister-in-law Laima Moorby.  Predeceased by her parents Herbert and Eleanor and brother Albert Moorby (Doreen). 

Lois became an elementary teacher after graduating from Toronto Teacher’s College in 1958 and worked in various locations throughout Southern Ontario after her marriage to Ross, whom she met in Richmond Hill High School.  Once their daughter, Leslie, was born, Lois stopped teaching and settled with Ross in Markham, Ontario where they resided for the next fifty years.

Although Lois had ceased teaching and had become a stay-at-home Mother, she never stopped aiding the community as she embraced roles outside of her family life.  Throughout the time her children were in elementary school, you could find her performing various activities for charities including canvassing for cancer, a nursery school volunteer and later a Girl Guide leader.  Before recycling became part of people’s regular curbside pickups, Lois would spend her Saturday mornings at the Unionville Recycling Depot to advise people who dropped by what of their waste could be recycled.  During this time period Lois was also an active member of People Or Planes campaigning against the building of the Pickering Airport, as well as volunteering at Unionville Public School library.

Once her children had finished elementary school, Lois found a job as a guide at the McMichael Art Gallery where she could marvel at the beautiful works of many Canadian artists.  After many years there, Lois turned back to her love of literature and took on a role as a Circulation Clerk at Richvale Library.   One of her weekly duties there was to head the Tales For Twos group, a session of storytelling, singing and crafts for two year olds and their Mothers.  During this period Lois spent much time outside of work, dreaming up crafts a two year old could do with such everyday items as empty toilet paper rolls.

Close to thirty years ago Lois and Ross purchased a house in Granville Ferry, Nova Scotia.  Every summer Ross and Lois would head out there taking a two day car trip to Nova Scotia where they would reside for three months.  Lois embraced the East Coast.  Despite living there only three months a year, a local business hired her to work in the gift shop which sold locally made folk art.   There she met many locals as well as tourists all eager to talk to Lois about life in the small town of Annapolis Royal.

Lois returned to volunteering, this time in the Markham Stouffville Hospital gift shop.  This would prove to be a mixed blessing to the family as there was always something there that caught her eye.  With the discount being offered as a volunteer, certain items on the shelf were sometimes just too tempting to refuse.   Many birthday and Christmas gifts included items purchased at the gift shop.

Eventually Lois and Ross grew tired of the constant traffic in Markham and decided it was time to move.  At Lois’ insistence they looked throughout Stouffville, before finally settling in a century home in the heart of Stouffville.  Despite moving, once again Lois was back to volunteering.  This time it was for the Care and Share Thrift Store, where she spent many days chatting with both the customers and volunteers.  Everyone had a story to tell, and Lois always provided a sympathetic ear to listen to whatever was happening in their lives. 

Throughout her life, Lois never really stopped helping people.  To many people who knew her and had lost their own mothers, Lois became a community mother who comforted those in need.  People knew they could turn to her because she always wanted to help others.  No matter what, Lois wanted to fix whatever problem was bothering you.

Although in her later years the effects of dementia changed Lois in many ways, she never let it define who she was as a person.   There were some parts of her that remained constant.  Among these would be her love of animals, art, music – particularly Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, dance, denim, the environment, the value of democratic voting, dark chocolate and particularly peanut butter.  At times Lois was feisty, playful, sassy, outgoing, stubborn, but she was always caring. Lois’ desire to fix whatever was upsetting her family or loved ones would always remain a part of her makeup. Everyone longed to see her smile as it had the power to brighten the entire room and then you found yourself unable to resist returning her smile. Although no one has the ability to replace a person’s true mother, Lois certainly attempted to do that for as many people as possible.

Lois Baker’s family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to both the Alzheimer’s Society of York Region and Bloomington Cove Community’s staff.  The Alzheimer’s Society provided a day programme for Lois to receive daily stimulation outside of her family during her battle with dementia, as well as support groups for her family.  Bloomington Cove Community’s staff provided excellent services for Lois, particularly when her diet narrowed by her own choice down to basically tomato soup or tomato soup for a meal.  The kitchen would surreptitiously add extra food to her soup to assist her regain her weight and strength.  Many of the staff took the time to secure Lois’ trust during her months’ stay at the residence.  A few PSWs and nurses would dance with her in the hallway to a tune only they could hear, or simply visit her while she was ill.

Throughout her life Lois championed many causes.  There would be several charities which would be lesser without Lois’ aide, whether it was financial, volunteering, or, in several instances, both.  Among those listed above, there was also the local Food Bank, Epilepsy Toronto, Parkinsons Canada, the Salvation Army, the March of Dimes, and the CBC,  to name a few.

As expressions of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer Society of York Region would be appreciated by the family.  The Alzheimer’s Society of York Region was one charity that championed Lois.  Let us now use the funds to help aide both Alzheimer’s Society Research and assist those families who are also afflicted with this disease. Cremation has been entrusted to Low & Low Funeral Home, Uxbridge.  Friends are invited to share memories, express condolences or make donations www.lowandlow.ca.