Ally Lou (Rowe) Baker

Ally Lou Baker, a former fashion, textile and interior designer in New York City, Los Angeles and Honolulu, Hawaii, died August 3, 2018. She was 89.

Born October 21, 1928 in Great Falls, Montana, Ally Lou Baker grew up in Great Falls and Fort Benton, Montana.  She was the daughter of a prominent Great Falls businessman Alfred Louis “Bud” Rowe and Alice Lillian (Ledbetter) Rowe.  Mrs. Baker attended Great Falls High School and then went on to graduate from Stevens College in Columbia, Missouri majoring in fashion design. On September 11, 1950 Ally Lou married Robert G. Baker of Great Falls, MT. The couple moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where Robert attended Washington University and Ally Lou began her career. After Robert graduated from college the two moved to Milwaukee where Ally began working for Glen Manufacturing. Robert was soon accepted to New York University and the couple moved to New York City where Ally Lou worked for Petty, Bobbie Brooks and Jantzen as one of the top swimwear designers in the United States.  Eventually their careers led them to Los Angeles, California where they raised their family. Ally Lou went on to design textiles and was a recipient of the prestigious 1980 Cotton Award.

Surviving Ally Lou Baker are her son, Robert George Baker, Jr. of Santa Ynez, CA, her daughter, Jordan Baker-Kilner of Tappan, New York, and her son, Clay Wynter Baker of San Jose, CA; six grandchildren; her two great-grandchildren; and her brother, Charles Rowe of Newark, Delaware.

Her ashes will be laid to rest at Highland Cemetery in the Rowe Family plot in Great Falls, Montana.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Ally Lou’s favorite service organizations:  Feeding America and The U.S.O.

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