Obituary of Clare Shaw Baker

Clare Shaw Baker, 82, a long time resident of Pembroke, died peacefully on June 16 , 2013 at her daughter's home in Middleboro. Clare died of complications of Alzheimer's Disease. During the last year of her life she moved back to Massachusetts from Florida to be cared for by her loving husband Bob, her children and grandchildren. Clare was born in Milton, and graduated from Brockton High School. She married George Shaw Jr. and moved to New Bedford. Later they moved to Pembroke where George joined the Pembroke Police Department and rose through the ranks to become Pembroke Chief of Police. Clare had a loving heart for children and devoted herself to the raising of their six children. As they grew, she became active in community affairs in the town of Pembroke. She was a founding member of the Pembroke Girls Softball League, a Campfire leader, a Sunday school teacher, a member of the Pembroke Country Club , the Pembroke Historical Society , and the Pembroke Bicentennial Committee. She was a contributing author to the bicentennial publication, Pembroke Revisited. She was a member of the Vestry of St. Andrew's Church in Hanover. She served on the Pembroke Police Department as a Crossing Guard at the Bryantville Elementary School. Later, she was an Assistant Librarian at the Pembroke Town Library. One of her great joys was running preschool story hours introducing children to her love of books. Tragically, her husband George died at age 55. However, Clare was blessed to find and fall in love with Robert Baker who had also lost his first spouse. They recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Clare and Bob were devoted to each other and to their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They retired to Plantation, Florida and had a wonderful group of friends and neighbors. Clare and Bob also helped found and build two churches St. David's Episcopal Church in Halifax, and the West Broward Community Church in Florida. In addition to church activities, they were also active in Habitat for Humanity. Clare is survived by her loving, devoted husband Robert Baker; her brothers Marshall Cheverie of Providence, RI and Robert Cheverie of Summerville, South Carolina; her children Paula Shaw St. James and her husband David of Middleboro, Stephen Shaw and his wife Nancy of Millbury, Ruthanne Gfroerer Donovan and her husband Daniel of Marshfield, and David Shaw and his wife Lisa of Carver; her son-in-law Jeffrey Smith of Sunrise, FL and her stepchildren Kevin and Kathy Baker of Pembroke. She is predeceased by her late husband George Shaw Jr., her daughters Dianne Shaw and Marybeth Shaw Smith and son-in-law Jeffrey Gfroerer. Clare is also survived by her grandchildren whom she loved dearly: Andrew and Alexis St. James, Nicole Trippier, Stephanie Shaw, Megan and Jacob Gfroerer, Nathan, Hanna and Sawyer Shaw, and Elise and Bronson Shaw Smith. She was blessed two months ago by the birth of her great granddaughter Ellery Chan St. James. Clare's family is very grateful for the wonderful, compassionate care provided to her by Joan Cashman, Denise Sisson, and the Cranberry Hospice. Visiting hours for Clare will be from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Shepherd Funeral Home 7 Mattakeeset St. (Rt. 14) Pembroke, on Thursday June 20, 2013. A memorial service will be held at the Rock Village Church, 92 Miller St., Middleboro on Friday June 21st at 4:00 PM. Burial will be private. The family is very indebted to Pastor Cook and his congregation who welcomed Bob and Clare lovingly in the last year of her life. Accordingly, in lieu of flowers donations may be made in Clare's memory to the Rock Village Church Memorial Fund, 92 Miller St. Middleboro, MA.