Obituary of Gordon Baker

Our father, Gordon Harold Baker was born in North Vancouver on March 16, 1923. He was the 7th of 8 children born to William and Pearl Baker. He was the last of his immediate family, having lost all of his brothers and sisters. However, the Baker name will carry on through his grandsons. In 1925 the Baker family moved to Graham Siding, about 9 miles north of 70 Mile House. Dad called it the homestead and the family would live here until 1933. The homestead was surrounded by lakes and the "Big Lake" as they called it, was later named Baker Lake after the family. Dad talked about when he saw his first vehicle. One year the neighbour, there was only one, held a school in their garage. A teacher by the name of Mrs. Hunter would drive her 1020's 'something or other' as he would say to school every day to teach the Baker kids and the 2 neighbour girls. At the end of the day they would ride on her car for a mile or so and then they would walk back to the homestead. After a year, the school shut down and dad never saw another vehicle for several years, until they moved to Louis Creek in 1933. The school at Louis Creek needed children to keep it open. For dad and his siblings, this was a big change in their lives and a good one. They finally got to go to school and actually play with other kids. In 1952, while working in Toronto, he met Margaret O'Connor. Dad was trying to make enough money to get a bus ticket back to the mines up north. However, he never made it. Instead he started dating Margret and on December 15, 1952 they were married. They then moved back to Chase, BC where they lived on the homestead. Together, Dad and his wife had 5 children. He always told us how proud he was of each of us. Dad fancied himself a carpenter and electrician. He also had 2 interests in his life, family and poems. He could write a poem about anybody or anything. In 1985 Dawson Creek became his home. He still traveled to different places to visit each of his children but always came back to Dawson. Dad was one of those people that would give you the shirt off his back, always wanting to help anyone who needed it. He was one of the most generous people you could ever meet. Gordon was never one to complain. He tried to please everyone. Gordon passed away on January 11, 2009 in Pouce Coupe at the age of 85 years. A Funeral Service was held on January 19, 2009 at 1:00 pm from Reynars Funeral Chapel. Cpt. Roger Lee officiated. Interment was held in the Brookside Cemetery. Very Respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium.