Baker, Gussie Peeples

 

Gussie Peeples Baker, always a Punta Gordan, was born on January 2, 1936 in Punta Gorda and lived her early years on Marion Avenue above the IGA Grocery store owned by her parents. Her parents named her Gussie, after her Grandfather Gus Cole, her mother’s father.  It didn’t take long for Gussie, a sixth-generation Floridian, to know her hometown’s main street - Marion Ave.  At the age of two she wandered away from home on her own, where her parents found her at the Church on Harvey Street – she had decided to go to Sunday school on her own.    And it was that determination to set out and accomplish things on her own, that she has demonstrated throughout her years in Punta Gorda.

Gussie graduated from Charlotte High School in 1954, where she was the head majorette and key player on the basketball team.  She attended Florida State University before returning to marry her high school sweetheart, Dale Russell Baker, on June 10, 1956.  They raised three children, and were blessed with eight grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.

Keenly interested in her town’s history, she was a keeper of many of its memories, compiling scrapbooks, saving photos and other memorabilia, most of which are now at the Punta Gorda History Center.   In addition to educating newcomers, especially new mayors and city managers on Punta Gorda history, she was one of the founding members of the Punta Gorda History Center and an active board member. 

Gussie was also president of the group that organized the first Punta Gorda Block Party, and in the process formed the “Old Timers” Organization, which continued to contribute to charitable efforts over the years.  For twenty-three years she served on the Police Retirement Board, after she helped initiate the retirement plan for the City’s police department. 

Throughout her life, Gussie, was known only by her first name throughout town.  Her energy, enthusiasm, and willingness to give her all for the city she loved was a gift to Punta Gorda.