Marilyn Joy "MJ" Baker

Marilyn Joy (MJ) Baker unexpectedly left this world to join her beloved mother and favorite kitties in her heavenly home in the early evening of July 3, 2026, with two friends at her side.

Born April 21, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan to Casper and Nedra Shafer, she was later adopted by Loren Cunnington and carried his last name through most of her working years. She chose to change her name to her mother's maiden name (Baker) in 2022 . She grew up in Bridgman, Michigan where she graduated from high school with an athletic letter in both softball and golf.

She received her LPN training at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and received both her RN and BSN degrees from the University of Michigan while she lived in Marshall. She began her nursing career with Bronson Methodist Hospital (Kalamazoo) in 1979 as an LPN in the Cancer Care unit. She moved to Minnesota where she continued to work in a cancer unit and a post coronary care unit in Minneapolis until moving back to Marshall in 1982.

Hired by Community Hospital in 1983, she worked in both the ICU and the Emergency Room as she studied to achieve Advanced Cardiac Life Support status. When Community and Leila Hospitals merged to become Battle Creek Health Systems, she continued to serve patients and families in both departments.

Her life came full circle when BCHS became part of the Bronson Hospital System. She briefly worked at Select Specialty Hospital and then returned to Bronson Battle Creek's Emergency Room. A fall in the ice-covered parking lot after work resulted in a traumatic brain injury that forced her into early retirement.

MJ worked briefly for Visiting Nurse Services and was a Clinical Instructor at Kellogg Community College for four years where she taught many nurses who later cared for her through her many health crises. Even as a patient, her care-giving and teaching spirit continued to reach out to help young nurses who had questions and answered questions for friends as they dealt with health issues of their own.

In spite of the nagging results of her brain injury and a series of falls, MJ moved toward new and challenging goals each day. She was a faithful early morning swimmer at the YMCA where she built up her stamina and confidence to a point where she completed the half-mile Goguac Lake swim in 2022 and attempted a repeat in 2025.

MJ loved to golf and watch the LPGA live and on TV. Watching the Tigers (long-distance) with Cousin Sue was a favorite summer pasttime. When she attended a Tiger game on June 11, 2021, she was surprised to be selected as “Fan of the Day”. She was interviewed, had her picture taken with “Paws”, and was featured on the stadium Jumbotron screen in all her Tiger gear.

She enjoyed going out to eat with friends (or taking lunch to them at work), swimming with her early morning buddies at the “Y”, and going to church with her Maple family. For the past three years, she has been the newsletter assembly crew of one for Maple Methodist Church.

MJ was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents and several dear furry and human friends. She is survived by her beloved cats—Thumper, Felix, Emmers, and Toto. Her aunt Peggy Baker and cousin Sue Brooks with whom she had recently reconnected cherish her memory. Her Maple Methodist family and a plethora of friends will miss her child-like spirit, her stubborn streak, and her boundless energy. Her brother Rodney Shafer (Julie) of Battle Creek and her niece and nephew also survive.

She was a member of the Nurse Honor Guard of Calhoun County, Maple Methodist Church, and the Battle Creek YMCA Aquatics Center.

Memorials may be directed to Tomorrow's Tails Pet Rescue (PO Box 473, Battle Creek, MI 49016) or Maple Methodist Church (342 Capital Avenue NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017).

A Celebration of Life will be held at Maple Methodist Church, 342 Capital Avenue NE on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 1:00 pm. Visitation will be from noon to 1:00pm. The Nurse Honor Guard of Calhoun County and Rev. Linda Stoddard will lead the service. Her ashes will be scattered at her request.

Arrangements are by Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Cremation Preneed Care. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.