Leonard Charles Baker, 81, died Oct. 25, 2008, at his home in McMinnville.
His graveside memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Bishop Ernie Collard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a luncheon at the LDS meeting house after the service.
He was born at Arlington, Calif., to Edward Andrew Baker and Lorraine Lucinda Dennis Baker on Aug. 25, 1927. He was the eighth of nine children.
In 1950 he married his first wife, Nancy Watts. They had two children, Diane Painter of Oregevale, Calif., and a son who died at birth.
Leonard worked on a ranch at Lancaster, Calif., until he moved to Washington in the mid 1960s with his sister, Doris, and her family.
He served as a police officer in Washington for a couple of years. During this time he met his wife, Mary. After they were married they relocated to Baker City.
His real passion was for driving trucks, which he did for much of his adult life. He retired in 1996 to take care of his ailing wife until her death on Sept. 6, 1999.
After Mary’s death, Leonard started driving a water truck for a mining company, a job he continued until 2006.
In his younger years he enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He always loved being around family and friends. His favorite pastime was teasing and joking with people.
He enjoyed camping, fishing, traveling, old Western movies and classic country music. He was a great storyteller and liked tinkering around in his workshop.
Leonard was a joy to be around and was loved very much by all who knew him, family members said.
“We look forward to the wonderful time when we are all reunited; until then he will be deeply missed,” they added.
Survivors include a daughter, Diane; three stepchildren, Sherry, Jim and Bud; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one brother, Kenneth; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the LDS Family History Center through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 09, 2009
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
