Jennie Lynn Vought Baker

Please go to: www.mdumc.org/jenniebaker on Friday, August 21, 2020 at 2:00 PM for Live Streaming Services. Jennie Lynn Vought Baker was born on July 27th, 1958 at Peekskill General Hospital in Peekskill, New York on the banks of the Hudson river. She was named after her paternal great grandmother, Jennie B. Williams Vought. Jennie’s paternal ancestors were Dutch whaleboat captains who immigrated from Holland in the 1680’s. Jennie’s family tree boasts an aide to General Pierre Van Cortland who served under the command of General George Washington in the Revolutionary War. Her mother, Mary Joy Hill Vought, was born on a cotton farm in Ellison Ridge, Mississippi. The Hill family became Methodist after being kicked out of the Baptist Church for attending a Pentecostal Tent Revival. During Jennie’s early years, her Uncle John called her a precocious child, and at the age of two, she announced to friends and strangers alike that she was “precocious.” And, she was. At the age of four she was struck with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a disease similar to polio, which paralyzed her from the waist down. During her illness, her mother spent time teaching her to read, and when she enrolled in kindergarten she was far ahead of her peers. She showed intense determination as she had to teach herself to walk and climb stairs again. An early sign of the fighter she would become. In 1965 the family relocated to Houston and Jennie attended Meadowood Elementary School and began forming lifelong friendships from the Spring Branch area. She was one of the early graduating classes of Stratford High School in 1976. From the age of 14, the very determined teen began lying about her age to become gainfully employed at multiple businesses; The Holiday Inn, Princes Hamburgers, and most notably she created her own company and contracted with the Forest Club to provide valet parking services. Jennie attended Texas Tech University where she graduated on The Dean’s List in 3 ½ years with a degree in marketing. During her college years she was a proud and active member of Zeta Tau Alpha women’s fraternity and was honored as a “Maid of Cotton” finalist at the University. After graduating in December of 1979, she turned down a position with former Texas Governor John Connally’s presidential campaign to begin her long and accomplished career at Conoco. With Conoco she moved extensively throughout the country. She moved from Tulsa, back to Houston, Cheyenne, back to Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta, then finally back to Houston. In her 29-year career she worked as executive assistant to the CEO, in pipeline business analysis and budgeting, natural gas and gas liquids, refined product supply and trading, and in retail and wholesale marketing. She was the first recipient of the Conoco Global “Valuing All People” award. This corporate-wide award recognized the employee that most embraced diversity, practiced inclusion and valued the opinions and thoughts of others. This award embodies everything Jennie stands for. She truly loved all God’s people. She went on her first date with fellow employee Mike Baker ten years after they met. He invited her on the romantic escapade of selecting a new rug for his living room. Once it became clear to the couple that they would marry, they immediately began fierce negotiations on how many children they would have. In true trader form Jennie began the bargaining at six. Mike finally agreed she could have as many children as she wanted until he turned 40. Mike and Jennie proceeded to have three children, Marcie, Leslie and Graham, in less than three years. Jennie never backed down from a challenge. After ConocoPhillips she worked at Western Refining integrating their new acquisition of Giant Refining into their corporate culture. She also worked with Shell Oil as an independent consultant on their worldwide IT projects. Much of what she did in these two roles was “Change Management,” which is focused on the people side of large corporate change initiatives. Another indicator of her passion for “valuing all people.” Jennie was the dedicated mother to Marcie, Leslie and Graham first and foremost. She treasured her children more than anything else and cherished her years with them. She considered it important to allow her children to follow their dreams, and not her dreams. She wanted them to commit to the things they loved and to see their goals through. The pride she had in them was evident every time she spoke of them. Their accomplishments were wholly embraced by Jennie. Jennie started volunteering for the Stratford playhouse in 2006. She served on the scholarship committee and as the booster club president for two years. Her family recalls that she loved to work with costumes, particularly shoes, and often had them lined up in the house to ready them for painting and dyeing. She was so committed to the organization that she stayed involved even after Graham’s graduation, continuing to help with scholarship review and costumes. She called Steel Pier her favorite production because it boasted all 3 Baker kids on stage at the same time. Many of her lifelong and dearest friends came from her SHS playhouse experiences, and she faithfully followed the post SHS endeavors of several playhouse graduates. Jennie joined the Spring Branch Education Foundation board in 2008, an organization close to her heart as a Spring Branch ISD graduate, and the mother of three graduates. She never turned down the opportunity to lead a committee. As chair of the planning and admin-development committee, she helped review and update PTA bylaws. As gala chairs, she and Mike spearheaded the planning of an impressively grand and profitable event. She also served as chair of the board for two years. She supported her fellow board members and took the time to mentor them when they took over new positions. The impact she had on SBEF in her 12 years of service was truly remarkable. Jennie dedicated many hours to the Houston Alumnae Panhellenic Association and was passionate about the work she did there. Most notably, she co-chaired the 2019 HAPA Scholarship Luncheon, which was a tremendous success, and raised thousands of dollars for Harris County undergraduates. The theme of the luncheon was Women of Purpose, which speaks to everything that Jennie supports and stands for. Jennie used her savvy and creativity to make the theme and décor affordable yet stunning. She used her influence in the community and her persuasiveness to recruit prestigious speakers. She recruited women from all areas of her life to significantly increase interest and attendance, which also increased revenues. In the midst of working on this phenomenal project, Jennie’s illness returned. She battled an infection and a weakened immune system but did not allow it to weaken her efforts or her resolve. She was steadfast, never wavering, and her vision was seen to its beautiful completion. Among Jennie’s many commitments to her community, was her devotion to Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, where she was a loyal member since childhood. Parishioners could always find Jennie helping with Vacation Bible School, teaching Sunday school, participating in multiple committees, and serving on the Board of Stewards. Everyone that met Jennie would tell you that making and keeping relationships and friendships was one of her many passions. She always came up with a reason to entertain, to celebrate someone or something. Rare was the occasion that the Baker home was empty of a celebrating crowd. Her famous in-law-outlaw holiday event carried with it the tradition of celebration and was worthy of any grand event or coveted invitation in the Houston area. Jennie was kind and self-sacrificing, a generous friend with a beautiful soul. She had the longest hug and the warmest smile. She had a soft front, but behind that front was a will of steel. She was an optimist, even in the darkest days of her illness, she never gave up hope, she never stopped fighting, she kept her dignity. Jennie is survived by her husband of 29 years, Michael Baker and her beloved children, Marcie, Leslie and Graham, by her parents, Bob and Mary Joy Vought, her sister Roxie Vought Allen (Mike), her brother Tom Vought, and her nephews; Christian, Russell, and Deontae. Jennie left a lasting impression on those whose lives she touched, and she will be missed. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Spring Branch Education Foundation Funds for the Future Endowment or the Memorial Drive United Methodist Church Caring Forever Foundation. A private memorial service will be held Friday, August 21, 2020 at 2:00pm at Memorial Drive Methodist Church. The celebration will be live streamed, please check back to this website for the live streaming link.

Jennie Lynn Vought Baker

July 27, 1958 - August 14, 2020