Ruth Oree Baker Laws

Ruth Oree Baker Laws, 94, of Grace Ridge, Morganton, NC and formerly of Valdese, NC, died Monday, July 17, 2017 at Grace Ridge. Born September 26, 1922 in Burke County, NC, she was a daughter of the late Robert Lon Baker, Sr. and Minnie Cline Baker. She was a graduate of Valdese High School’s class of 1939 and of Blanton’s Business College, Asheville, NC. For forty-four years, she was employed in the accounting office of Alba Waldensian Mills. Mrs. Laws was a faithful member of the Valdese First Baptist Church where she was a member of the Mary’s Sunday School class and where she volunteered with the Twice Blessed clothing ministry. She was a member of the Lovelady Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star in Valdese until she and her husband, Lee, transferred their memberships to the Mimosa Chapter in Morganton. Oree held the office of Worthy Matron for several terms and was appointed a Grand Officer, Grand Representative, and District Deputy Grand Matron. In 2009 she received her fifty-year pin. She was a member of the Morganton AARP and was an usher at CoMMA. Oree enjoyed line dancing and square dancing and particularly joking with and hugging the menfolk. She loved her Grace Ridge family of 18 years, nurses, staff, and friends. She will miss her “Hand and Foot” and Sunday movie partners and fifth floor friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Vestal Lee Laws; a sister, Aileen Baker Simpson; a brother, Robert Lon “Sonny” Baker; brothers-in-law, William Cornelius Reynolds and John Henry Simpson; sister-in-law, Bobbie Shell Baker; and a nephew, Lonnie Baker.

Surviving are her sister, Rebecca Baker Reynolds of Hickory, NC; nieces, Johnnie Ree Simpson of Leland, NC and Lisa Reynolds of Boone, NC; a nephew, William C. Reynolds, Jr. and his wife, Kathy of Hickory; a great nephew, William C. Reynolds, II and his wife, Amber; and great nieces, Nicole Baker, Katie Reynolds Howard and her husband, Drew, and Kristie Reynolds Clontz and her husband, Phil.

The family will receive friends from 10 to 11am, Thursday, July 20, 2017 at Valdese First Baptist Church.  The funeral will be held at 11am in the church with Dr. Barry Keys and the Rev. Timothy Horldt officiating. Funeral rites will be performed by the Order of the Eastern Star, Mimosa Chapter #269.  Entombment will follow in Burke Memorial Park Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to First Baptist Church, 500 Faet St., NW, Valdese, NC 28690 or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family.