Obituary for Marta Baker
Marta Baker, 43, was born November 12, 1977 in Morton, Texas. She was the first child born to
Jessie R. Cruz and Maria G. Cruz. She went on to be with the Lord April 30, 2021, with her husband Justin (Pono) Baker and her brother Erik Cruz by her side.
Marta was the first child born to Jessie R Cruz and Maria G Cruz. She was raised in Haines City, Florida where she lived with her family until she met her husband, Pono. They were young but Marta always had the biggest heart, especially when it came to children. In 2001 they received custody of her three youngest siblings Teresa, Lorinda, and Erik who were 17, 12 and 7 at that time. She took great pride and joy in raising them. They all later relocated to Leavenworth, Kansas in 2002.
Marta was baptized in Jesus name for the remission of her sins in 2012 and was a faithful servant to the Lord at Truth Tabernacle. She was a walking testament to God and witnessed to anyone who would listen.
Marta was an amazing, bubbly people person whose capacity for love was unmatched. Marta and Pono shared a bond so strong that they never imagined a life without the other. Words he uses to describe Marta are beautiful, amazing and the love of his life. Besides spending time with the love of her life, Marta was most happy when she was surrounded by family and friends. Although Marta and Pono never had children of their own, the Lord blessed them in many other ways and had lots of babies through their siblings who all lovingly called her Titi (Teetee) as well as multiple godchildren who lovingly called her Madrina. She started her job as secretary at Anthony Elementary School in 2017 and this became a job that she truly loved.
Marta was preceded in death by her father, Jessie R. Cruz, her oldest sister Sylvia Cruz-Carrillo and her niece Carter Pittman.
Marta leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband of almost 20 years, Justin Baker; her mother Maria Cruz of Haines City, FL; four brothers: Norberto Perez, Faustino Perez, Jessie R. Cruz Jr., Erik Cruz; five sisters: Sally Pina, Sandra Cruz, Jessica Sanders, Teresa Cruz, and Lorinda Cruz; her in-laws, Tracy and Robert Ludeman and Robert Rice; two sisters-in-law: Jenise (Nani) Gooden, Jeri-Lynn(Lei) Pittman and two Brothers-in-law C.J. Gooden, and Gelder Cano; Nine nephews: Anthony Merluzzi, Jose Perez, Mack Perez, Johnathan Merluzzi, Narik Sanders, Colin Pittman, Xadrian Cruz, Gelder Cano Jr., and Makaio Gooden; 11 nieces: Perla Pina, Yulissa Pina, Vanessa Merluzzi, Eriyana Young, Eriyelle Young, Kaytee Gooden, Kabrynn Gooden, Justice Pittman, Chloe Sanders, Jenyla Cano, Meilani Cano as well as her Anthony Elementary School family and her many brothers and sisters from Truth Tabernacle and many other extended family and friends.
Viewing will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 7, 2021, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 8th at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Sunset Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Jessie R. Cruz and Maria G. Cruz. She went on to be with the Lord April 30, 2021, with her husband Justin (Pono) Baker and her brother Erik Cruz by her side.
Marta was the first child born to Jessie R Cruz and Maria G Cruz. She was raised in Haines City, Florida where she lived with her family until she met her husband, Pono. They were young but Marta always had the biggest heart, especially when it came to children. In 2001 they received custody of her three youngest siblings Teresa, Lorinda, and Erik who were 17, 12 and 7 at that time. She took great pride and joy in raising them. They all later relocated to Leavenworth, Kansas in 2002.
Marta was baptized in Jesus name for the remission of her sins in 2012 and was a faithful servant to the Lord at Truth Tabernacle. She was a walking testament to God and witnessed to anyone who would listen.
Marta was an amazing, bubbly people person whose capacity for love was unmatched. Marta and Pono shared a bond so strong that they never imagined a life without the other. Words he uses to describe Marta are beautiful, amazing and the love of his life. Besides spending time with the love of her life, Marta was most happy when she was surrounded by family and friends. Although Marta and Pono never had children of their own, the Lord blessed them in many other ways and had lots of babies through their siblings who all lovingly called her Titi (Teetee) as well as multiple godchildren who lovingly called her Madrina. She started her job as secretary at Anthony Elementary School in 2017 and this became a job that she truly loved.
Marta was preceded in death by her father, Jessie R. Cruz, her oldest sister Sylvia Cruz-Carrillo and her niece Carter Pittman.
Marta leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband of almost 20 years, Justin Baker; her mother Maria Cruz of Haines City, FL; four brothers: Norberto Perez, Faustino Perez, Jessie R. Cruz Jr., Erik Cruz; five sisters: Sally Pina, Sandra Cruz, Jessica Sanders, Teresa Cruz, and Lorinda Cruz; her in-laws, Tracy and Robert Ludeman and Robert Rice; two sisters-in-law: Jenise (Nani) Gooden, Jeri-Lynn(Lei) Pittman and two Brothers-in-law C.J. Gooden, and Gelder Cano; Nine nephews: Anthony Merluzzi, Jose Perez, Mack Perez, Johnathan Merluzzi, Narik Sanders, Colin Pittman, Xadrian Cruz, Gelder Cano Jr., and Makaio Gooden; 11 nieces: Perla Pina, Yulissa Pina, Vanessa Merluzzi, Eriyana Young, Eriyelle Young, Kaytee Gooden, Kabrynn Gooden, Justice Pittman, Chloe Sanders, Jenyla Cano, Meilani Cano as well as her Anthony Elementary School family and her many brothers and sisters from Truth Tabernacle and many other extended family and friends.
Viewing will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 7, 2021, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 8th at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Sunset Memory Gardens Cemetery.