John Cliff Baxter

John Cliff BAXTER 11/26/22 ~ 5/5/11 John C. Baxter was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and grew up in Davenport, attending both Culver Military Academy and Davenport High School, where he was a state champion long-distance runner. He began college at University of Iowa, but left to join the Navy as a transport pilot in World War II. His group was the first to enter China at the end of the war, and the pilots were welcomed as heroes by the occupied Chinese. After the war, John moved to Seattle and earned a BA in economics from the University of Washington. He worked as a stock broker in Seattle, until he focused on commercial real estate development. He was president of the Seattle-King County Board of Realtors in 1976-77. John was an avid sailor and an accomplished climber. He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, and a former member of the College Club and the Seattle Tennis Club. In 1974 John met a saint from India, Swami Muktananda, and had a spiritual awakening that totally changed his life. He enthusiastically embraced the teachings of this philosophy. If he could, John would give you his welcoming smile, a big thumbs up, and shout "Sadgurunath Maharaj Ki Jay!", which means "Hail to the true bringer of light and dispeller of darkness, who dwells within each of us as the Self of all." John is survived by daughters, Heidi (Saroj) Baxter and Anne Baxter, grandson Steven John Sheehy, sister Lunette Coburn, brother Bill Baxter, nieces, nephews, cousins, caregiver and friend Leigh Hester, former wife Jane, and loving friends from the Siddha Yoga community. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to SYDA Foundation, PO Box 600, South Fallsburg, NY, 12779. Private services will be held.