Roberta Mabel Baty, 85 of Springfield, MO died at Mercy Hospital on Friday, March 9, 2018.  She was born September 30, 1932 in Kirksville, Missouri but raised in Des Moines, Iowa where she graduated from North High School in June 1950.  She began her career with Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. upon graduation, then moved to Hawaiian Telephone in Honolulu, and retired from Southwestern Bell in Springfield, MO in July 1992.

Roberta was an avid traveler and visited 50 states plus over 65 foreign countries.  She was the author of a book titled, "Ramblings of a Wide-eyed Wanderer" which covers many of her experiences.

Roberta was an active volunteer with Multiple Sclerosis, Friends of the Library, a member of Queen City Lions Club, and Telephone Pioneers of America, plus volunteered with Mercy/St. John's Hospital, helping to establish their Senior Travel Program.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Owen and Esther Baty of Des Moines and Springfield, and survived by a brother, Thomas Neal Baty of Honolulu and a nephew, Thomas Edward Baty of California.

After cremation by Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, burial will be in Waukee City Cemetery, Iowa.


Been There, Done That
There isn't much on this earth that I want to do that I haven't done.
I am an adventurer, always have been and perhaps always will be.
There is so much on this earth to do yet, after a while it becomes limited.
It's not a fancy car, nor clothes, nor shoes, it's the heart that matters.
I have traveled the world in an airplane.
I always wanted to do that, so I did it.
I've ridden a submarine and dived beneath the sea.
Always wanted to do that, so I did it.
I've seen the tallest mountains in the world.
Always wanted to do that, so I did it.
I spent a week in the Amazon, in the jungle and on the river.
Always wanted to do that, so I did it.
I haven't parachuted or bungee jumped yet but, I've flown high in a hot air balloon.
Always wanted to do that, so I did it.
I cuddled with a Koala in Australia and necked with a giraffe in Africa.
Always thought that would be fun, so I did it.
I rode a camel and walked the Wall in China, Also rode an Elephant in India.
Always wanted to do that, so I did it.
I've seen 50 states and over 65 countries,
Always wanted to see them, so I did it.
I still have a few things on the list of "want to do that".
I still have places to go that I haven't seen yet.  But I will.
I have done a lot and I have a lot to do, but most of what I haven't done,
I have some idea of what it is like.
Those things no longer amaze as much.
The really important journeys now are more internal that external.
With all of the things that this Earth realm has, the time and the things are running out.
More and more as I hear about things of this earth,
I can pull up a memory and something similar will emerge.
I can say in some form, "Been there, done that".
Solomon, perhaps the wisest and wealthiest man of the Bible,
said at the end of it all, "All is vanity".
I have a feeling Solomon also said, "Been there, done that".
He was looking for another adventure.   An adventure that he couldn't find on earth,
in the wealth, the women, the power, the prestige, or anything else that materialism had to offer.
Very little is mentioned in the scriptures actually describing Heaven.
Not so much as a half page of description.
The prior years of my life seem like a wisp of smoke.
Mere days. The days whisk by now faster than ever.
As you get older, you know what I mean.
I've had a beautiful life, past and present, but I know this is just a shadow of what is to come in Heaven.
I focus on storing up treasure in the place that is really important.
A place where 80 years here is about 60 minutes there.
A place where, that even with all my reading, I still know very little about,
except that I am sure I want to go there.
A place where, when people ask me about it, I can only say, "Ain't been there, ain't done that yet".
But I will!!