Kristie Michelle Baker, age 49, went to be with her Heavenly Father on May 7, 2026, in the comfort of her home, surrounded by family.  Kristie was born on October 30, 1976, in Batesville, Arkansas, to Donald Baker and Marilynn Smith Mathews.  Kristie grew up loving the countryside of Prim, which she recently called home.

Kristie was a lifelong learner and began her educational journey at Pine Forest Elementary in Maumelle, Arkansas.  She relocated to Bryant with her family in the 5th grade and finished her remaining school years there.  She graduated from Woodland Hills Christian School and later pursued an associate’s degree at Pulaski Tech.  Recently, Kristie completed an integrated studies program and received her Bachelor’s degree from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.  From there, she began working on her Master’s degree.  Kristie valued learning and was always seeking ways to improve herself.

Kristie spent many years working different jobs in which she impacted the lives of people around her.  She had a servant’s heart and was a hard worker who poured herself into whatever job she was asked to do.  She grew up knowing that hard work and dedication were admirable qualities, and she had a great desire to embrace these qualities. She delivered mail and befriended many people on her route, whom she talked to and helped each day.  Kristie served her surrounding community by working at the Dream Center.  She was very devoted to this ministry, and she had a compassionate heart for the homeless population in the cities in which she served. She spent time serving in the mission field in Haiti, and was greatly impacted by her time serving abroad. Kristie left a lasting impression on those that she encountered each day, and she was always looking for ways to help others.  

It was impossible to know Kristie without knowing that she fiercely loved her family and friends.  She had a soul that enjoyed spending quality time with those she loved above all else. It would be hard to find Kristie missing from a family function or family dinner, and she enjoyed nothing more than being in the hills of Prim, where she loved riding around on the four-wheeler exploring the farm.  It didn’t take much to keep her heart happy, and those happiest times were spent with the ones she loved.

Kristie always had an adventurous spirit.  She would spend hours tinkering and learning something new. She built a chicken coop from pallets, youtubed for hours to fix a truck, and loved to cook and try new recipes.  It was nothing for Kristie to hop on a plane and go explore a new place.  She loved to try new things and was always up for a challenge or an adventure.  

Kristie was preceded in death by her two grandfathers, Oscar Smith and James Baker; one grandmother, Joyce Turner, and two uncles, Tommy Smith and John Smith.

Kristie is survived by her father, Donald Baker (Lisa) of Phoenix, Arizona; her mother, Marilynn Mathews of Prim, Arkansas; two brothers, Craig Baker (Tiana Starke) of Tucson, Arizona, and Clint Baker of Tucson, Arizona; her grandmother, Norene Hewitt Smith; two uncles; Jeffery Smith (Renee) of Prim, Arkansas, and David Baker (Patty) of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; four aunts; Janelle Knew (Randy) of Heber Springs, Arkansas, Jamie Wilcox (Wayne) of Greenbrier, Arkansas; Sandy Smith of Prim, Arkansas; Cathy Baker Drew of Batesville, Arkansas; many first cousins, extended family, and friends. 

Funeral Service will be at 2:00 PM, Monday, May 11, 2026, at Sunny Slope General Baptist Church in Edgemont, Arkansas, with Darvin Carlton officiating. Visitation will begin at 1:30 PM. Interment will be in Sunny Slope Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Heber Springs Funeral Home, 1199 Wilburn Road, Heber Springs, Arkansas 72543.