Martha Jane 'Tommie' Baisden

On September 4, 2018, our world lost a gentle and kind soul, Martha Jane Baisden – affectionately dubbed “Tommie” at birth after her parents Bessie & Thompson Cook when they expected her to be a “him”. Tommie spent her childhood being the center of attention as an only child. Her tales of adventure growing up in West Virginia held a whimsical wonder and love of nature that never left her.

After graduating from Man High School, Tommie attended West Virginia University majoring in Home Economics. On a blind date in 1943 at WVU, she met the love of her life, Orville “Red” Baisden. Her adventurous nature was a perfect complement to the world travels that awaited them, and Tommie was constantly by Red’s side during his military career, and they were a team in every sense of the word. They were rarely referred to as individuals; their names were forever and always connected. They retired to Rancho Palos Verdes, CA calling it home for almost 50 years. Their devotion and love to one another was unwavering for the 71 years they shared together.

Over the course of her life, Tommie gracefully sowed seeds of positivity and wisdom wherever she tread and lent a helpful hand to those in need. She appreciated the beauty in each day and delighted in all of God’s creations. She lived by her personal mantra, which was: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.” She did so for 93 years.

Tommie was preceded in death by her parents, her son Ray and her soul mate Red. She is survived by many nieces, nephews and loyal friends who adored her. Her wishes were that no services be held in her honor. Tommie’s final resting place will be with her husband in the Baisden Family Cemetery at Verdunville, WV. In lieu of flowers, the family asks if you wish to honor Tommie to do so by supporting your local veteran’s organization.