Clarence Baker

Clarence Baker, age 89, of Grants Pass, died Sunday, February 13, 2011 at Providence Medford Medical Center.

A memorial service will be at 3:00 p.m., Friday, February 18, 2011 at Hull & Hull Chapel with Pastor Ron Marsh officiating. Private interment will be at Laurel Cemetery in Cave Junction. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Clarence was born May 3, 1921 in Clinton, Iowa to Clarence & Anna Baker. He moved with his family first to Wyoming then to Grants Pass in 1936 and attended Grants Pass High School. During World War II he served in the United States Navy until his honorable discharge in 1945. After returning to Grants Pass he worked at Fourply for many years and for his entire working career was active in the lumber industry in the Grants Pass area. On November 21, 1956 in Medford, Oregon he married Patsy Scherffius.

He was a ham radio operator and enjoyed meeting with other operators. He also enjoyed reunions with his Kitkun Bay (CVE 71) shipmates. His hobbies included ham radios, fishing, camping, and planting trees in Josephine County parks.

Survivors include a daughter, Kathy Darby of Grants Pass, Oregon; two stepdaughters, Frances Marcy of Sherwood, Oregon and Linda Reese of Portland, Oregon; a brother, Forrest Baker of San Clemente, California; 13 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patsy Baker in 2003; two stepdaughters, Grace Harader and Suzanne Lehman; a brother, Art Baker; and two sisters, Rose Cimperman and Helen Petersen.