Patricia Lester Baker, fondly known as Patsy, died February 8, 2026, at home in Tryon, NC, surrounded by her loving family. She was the daughter of Jewell Thomas Lester and Murray Oliver Lester. She is survived by three children: Joy T. Baker, DVM, of Tryon; Murray Lester Baker, MD (Virginia, deceased), of Blountstown, FL; and Daryl Baker Nelms, PT (David W. Nelms), of Mill Spring, NC; eight grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren.

Patsy was a lover of nature and spent much of her young life riding her quarter horse on the Lester ranch with her beloved cousin Bobbie Lester. She also spent much of her time with her granddad, William H. Lester, fondly known as Papa, playing with and training his bird dog puppies.

Patsy was a native of St. Petersburg, FL, where she attended local schools and graduated from St. Petersburg High School. She attended Duke University and graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.A. in History. Following graduation, she studied at The New York School of Design.

While at Chapel Hill, Patsy went home at Thanksgiving with her roommate who lived in Tryon. There, she met her future husband, Lt. James McDowell Baker, who was on leave from the Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune. They were engaged in 1952 when Jim received a call for deployment in the Korean War. After the end of the war, the two were married on November 27, 1953, in St. Petersburg. They returned to Jim’s home in Tryon for two years, where daughter Joy was born.

They moved back to St. Petersburg, where Jim later became president of Lester Bros. Furniture Co., Inc. Patsy was very involved in many non-profit civic activities, including The Junior League of St. Petersburg, where she served as Secretary, Treasurer, and Board Member for many years; a charter member of the Museum of Fine Arts, where she was Docent Chairman; involved with the public school system; chairman of their thrift store; member of the St. Pete Yacht Club and Vinoy Golf and Country Club; and a parishioner at St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral.

After her children were in college, Patsy began her career in real estate with Prudential Crisp Realty Co. She was a top producer, with her greatest achievement being the top Prudential sales and listing realtor in the entire city of St. Petersburg.

Jim and Patsy retired to Tryon in 1993, where they renewed old friendships and became avid golfers at Tryon Country Club. They joined the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross, and Patsy became active in the flower guild. After arranging vases for the church on Sundays, she would divide them and disperse them at a local nursing home. Patsy was an active member of the Outreach Committee and a volunteer for Hospice of the Carolinas. She was a member of the St. Luke OSL, a healing ministry, and served as a past vestry member of Holy Cross.

After fifty years of marriage, Jim died in 2004. After three years of being a widow, she renewed a friendship with John Hanskat of St. Petersburg. They married on January 20, 2007, at Holy Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross. They spent seven wonderful years traveling the United States in his motor home and traveled throughout Europe. John died in 2014.

Patsy spent her later years still active in Holy Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross and visiting frequently with her growing number of great-grandchildren. She led a blessed life and will be remembered and missed.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., February 28, 2026, at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Tryon, North Carolina with Father Robert Ard officiating.

Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens in Columbus, North Carolina.

A reception will follow the burial at the church.

An online guest register is available at mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com

McFarland Funeral Chapel & Crematory

Tryon, North Carolina