ROBERT RAY "BOB" BAKER

1930 - 2009

Robert Ray "Bob" Baker, Sr. was born October 15, 1930 in Strang, Oklahoma, and died February 24, 2009 in Kirkland, Washington, at the age of 78. That is when he left for his final gig to meet his new "groupies".

Born to Ray and Lou Allice Baker, he spent his early life in northeast Oklahoma. When Bob was very young, his father took a job at Sunshine Mine in Kellogg, Idaho. The family followed later in the year, traveling across the country by Greyhound Bus and they settled in the Deadwood Gulch area. During World War II, they moved to Stanwood, Washington, where the family worked in farming and logging. Bob graduated from Sedro Woolley High School in 1948, his Bachelor Degree from Western Washington State College in 1952 and his Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Seattle University in 1970. His professions were teaching and school counseling.

In 1955 he married Frances Butler, a fellow elementary school teacher, and they made their home in Bellevue. He first taught the 5th grade at Clyde Hill Elementary and then to Sunset Elementary. He later became a homeroom teacher at Tyee Junior High. At this time he attended Seattle University and acquired his Masters Degree in psychotherapy. He became a counselor hired for the newly built Interlake High School but soon realized that his true desire was to help elementary-age youth. He implemented important children's programs that were later adopted at the state level. He ended his teaching career at Robinswood Elementary when he retired in 1989.

While his career was in counseling and teaching, his true love was in music. He was given a ukulele at age 8 and at age 14 worked in the alfalfa fields to earn enough to purchase his first guitar. With no formal music training, he taught himself to play his guitar; he developed a deep understanding of music theory. He had many students in music until giving his last lesson 2 weeks before his death. He was a popular musician and singer who played all over the Puget Sound area with many famous musicians including Stan Borison, Roy Kennelly, Harry Lindbeck and Mike O'Dell, as well as nationally known artists. He regularly played for dances in the local area, primarily at Sons of Norway in Everett and the Bothell Senior Center. We will miss his velvety voice and multi-faceted playing. He was also a talented woodworker, having made detailed toys and multiple pieces of furniture for friends and family all his life. He divorced in 1993, and moved into an apartment in Bellevue until 1999. He then moved to Woodinville where he later met a new neighbor Joy Schopp and they were married in 2004.

He is survived by his wife, Joy; his first wife, Frances; his son and daughter in-law, Rob and Susan Baker of Snohomish; daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Bob Herman of Kirkland; daughter and son-in-law, Kathryn and Robert Arriola of Ephrata; step-daughter, Mollie Ragland of Everett; step-daughter, Lucy and Chris Czesak of Bothell. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

A family celebration of his life was held on February 28. A celebration with his music friends is open to all who would like to attend at Sons of Norway dance, 2725 Oakes Avenue, Everett, Washington on March 5 at 2:00 p.m.

Memories and photos may be shared or written at that time or left on a blog for Bob at http://web.me.com/czesak/Robert_Baker_Memorial/Home.html.
Dad, Grandpa, Papa, Bob -- "ONLY YOU . . ." made our lives complete!