Janie Baker Hughes

Janie Baker Hughes (1924-2022); Beloved mother, Christian and prayer-warrior. Janie slipped peacefully into the arms of her Savior on July 4, 2022. Psalm 36:4 says, "God is within her, she shall not fall, He will help her just at the break of dawn." Janie breathed her last at 5:50 a.m. just minutes before sunrise in Bernalillo County. She was born to sharecroppers, Ralph and Rilma Baker in Central Texas, worked in the WWII 'war effort' repairing avionics on Air Force bombers. She married Army Sergeant Wm W Hughes Jr. in Dallas, Texas in 1948. They began raising their four children there in Dallas. In 1969, now divorced, Janie purchased Bonanza Steakhouse in Albuquerque. She became widely known in New Mexico as a successful businesswoman and restaurateur, but her heart was for people. She was an evangelist and participated in several crusades in New Mexico. She could commonly be seen sitting at tables with her customers, listening to their stories, and sharing the "Old, Old, Story". She was like a mother to her employees, counseling them, and expecting their best. Any young person who had Bonanza on their resume could get a restaurant job anywhere in the city. She and daughter Lyn were very engaged in pro­life ministries, and in sustaining America's freedoms. They were often attendees at candidate dinners and ran the polls every voting day while they had health to do so.

She was a longtime member of Hoffmantown Baptist Church, and later years at Height Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She was active in many ministries after her retirement, especially the transformational prayer group at Heights, praying for Albuquerque, America, and countries around the world. She walked with God and helped pray her children and grandchildren out of many tight situations, and into the productive godly people they've become. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Lyn; and son, Phillip who died at birth; brother, Bryan and wife, Joyce; brother, Amon; and sister, Linda and husband Glenn. She is survived by dear sister-in-law, Joy; son, "Bill" and wife Christine; son, Baker and wife Jane; daughter, Elizabeth and husband Wes; eight beloved grandsons; four beloved granddaughters; twenty-one precious great-grandchildren; and many cherished nieces and nephews; and an abundance of cherished friends. Revelation 14:13 says, "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."

Memorial Service to be held on Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 8600 Academy Rd NE with reception to follow. Visitation to be held Friday, July 8, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at FRENCH - Lomas, 10500 Lomas Blvd NE. Interment will take place at Thornton Cemetery in Thornton, Texas with arrangements being taken care of by Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home in Mexia, Texas.