Central Oregonian

Stephen R. “Bob” Baker

January 07, 2013

Stephen R. “Bob” Baker, a resident of Prineville, died peacefully January 5, 2013 in Prineville. He was 82 years old. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 11, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. and will be in the Whispering Pines Funeral Home, Prineville. Vault interment and Military Funeral Honors will follow in the Juniper Haven Cemetery, Prineville. Memorials in his memory may be directed to either: the Pioneer Memorial Hospice, or the Parkinson’s Research Foundation, and may be sent in care of Whispering Pines Funeral Home, 185 N.E. 4th. Street, Prineville, Oregon 97754.

Bob was born February 24, 1930 in Gridley, California. He was the son of Marcum and Virgi (Hamman) Baker. He was raised and educated in California and had been a standout football player in high school. After high school he enlisted into the United States Navy and served his country from 1950 until 1954. In 1955 he began working in the lumber milling industry and had worked for Crawford, Georgia Pacific and Louisiana Pacific lumber as a Master Lumber Grader until his retirement in the Mid 1980s. He had been married to JoAnn Baker for 39 years. She preceded him in death in 1991. In 1992 he married Phillis Gerdes and they made their home in Prineville.

Bob greatly enjoyed the outdoors including hunting, fishing and camping. He was a master craftsman who had made many long rifles as well as knives and jewelry. He was an avid archer who had competed on the state level in longbow competition. He was a member of the G.M.L.R. (the Grizzly Mountain Long Rifle association) and loved to attend the Mountain Man Rendezvous and was known as “Guns”. In later years he also enjoyed going to the Senior Center In Prineville. Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He is survived by: his loving wife of 20 years, Phillis Baker of Prineville, two daughters, Stephanie McCarthy and Sherrill Snyder & son-in-law Tom Snyder, step daughter Marvel Dement & husband Dan, and step-son Brian Abell, one sister, Shirley Baker, a brother, Gary Baker, grandchildren: B.J. Nunez, Andy Snyder, Noah Nunez, Don Snyder, Rachel Nunez, step-grandchildren: Jamie Monroe, Jared Abell, Trevor Abell, and Court Abell, four great-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews.