Frances "Tinker" Darlene Baldwin

Frances Darlene Baldwin, “Tinker”, 78, of Lakeside, AZ, passed away peacefully, surrounded her family on March 10, 2025. Born Frances Darlene Elliott on August 6, 1946, in Carlsbad, NM, she was affectionately known as “Tinker” to everyone who knew her. Those close to her described her as spunky, beautiful, gentle, and outgoing. She was also known for her caring nature and her ability to be stern when needed. She was a nurturing, thoughtful, supportive, genuine, and resilient woman who touched many lives.

Tinker had a career in the construction industry and was a pioneer as one of the first female flaggers in Arizona.  She was a laborers union member.  It was during this time that she met her sweetheart and husband of 40 years, Owen Baldwin. They married in 1985 and he had five children welcomed into the family; Gary, Lorna, Nicole, Todd and Christy.  After retiring from construction, she continued to work as a flagger for “Goin’ Owen” Surveying throughout the 1990s.

Her family was the center of her world. She loved being a grandma and caring for her adult children. She enjoyed gardening and was a talented quilter. She and Owen shared a love for horses and enjoyed traveling to visit family.

Tinker was also active in her community. Her quilting skills allowed her to give back to her community by fundraising for families in need. She was a member of the “Card Tricks Quilting” chapter of the Arizona Quilters Guild. She served as President of the White Mountain Horse Association and facilitated Parkinson's support groups, providing support and guidance to others.  She operated a sewing school for kids, passing on her love of sewing.   She was a member of the Church of Christ.

Tinker was preceded in death by her husband, Owen; her parents, Birdie and Billy Elliott; her siblings, Jim “Butch” Elliott, Billy Elliott, and an infant brother; John C Spires, son in law, Todd Baldwin a stepson, and her grandchildren James Spires, Christian and Candace Haines.

She is survived by her daughters, Lori (Gary) Marak, Shelley Spires, Karen (Joe) Ernest, and Dawn Lippard; her step children, Gary Baldwin, Lorna Goforth, Nicole McClain, and Christy Abraham, her grandchildren, John, Brandi, Mitchel, Shaina, Matthew, Justin, Tyler, Calvin, Teesha, Kyle, Nancy, Diana, Cammy, Chase, Harley, Darrienne, Courtney, Steven, Sarah,  and Lili; and her brother, Daniel Elliott, and many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at Reed Hatch Memorial Cemetery in Taylor, AZ, on March 21, 2025, at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Parkinson's Foundation or the American Parkinson's Disease Association

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