Mickey (Michele) Louise Baker

Mickey Baker of Grass Valley, California passed away on Saturday, July 26th after a short battle with stage 4 colon cancer. She loved life and fought hard to stay right up until the end. She was surrounded by love, family, and friends in her last days and hours at home.

Many remember Mickey by her unique name and her red hair, and if not, certainly by her unique voice! Love it or hate it, you could always hear her coming. Mickey was a dynamic woman with many chapters to her eighty years. She was blessed with enough decades to evolve as a human as we are meant to do. Depending upon which era you were lucky enough to meet her in, you may recall a different Mickey than someone else. We want to honor Mickey and all her chapters, as that's what made her who she was.

Mickey was born in Oakland, California, to L.W. Dillingham and M.B. Huntington where she was raised until the age of 14. She was raised alongside her sister, Shryl, whom she remained close with through all eighty years. In 1959 her mother and stepfather moved the family to Grass Valley, California, where she resided ever since.

Mickey married at a young age. While the marriage was abusive, and she ultimately left the marriage, she had no regrets. She had her two eldest children, and two wonderful in-laws that she was much closer to and had more love and support from than her own family. Mickey rarely spoke ill of anyone, including from this time in her life. She only shared funny or happy memories of raising her young children and Papa and Nana doting on them.

Many community members know Mickey from her many years of running an in-home daycare in Grass Valley. She loved all children, but especially felt a calling to care for children with special needs. She always found ways to accommodate them in her home in an era where services were not so readily available. Her children, as she always called them, would come back as adults with their own children and visit her often. Mickey also had two more children of her own during these years, and then even had a grandchild, and entered round two of her motherhood life. She greatly enjoyed the freedom of raising her children the way she wanted this time around.

Throughout these years, Mickey was heavily involved in the wild, local theater scene of the 80's and 90's in Nevada County. Apparently the thespian crowd knew how to party back then! She loved the theater and worked backstage and costuming for multiple companies. She made many lifelong friendships during this era. Her children and grandchildren were in many of these performances at the children's theater companies, too.

Mickey eventually closed her daycare, and entered a career at First American Title as a clerk or recorder. She enjoyed her professional career and being around so many people, travelling between the Auburn and Grass Valley offices. Running around in her jumpers and Mary Janes, and often bringing her chocolate confections, she loved her work. She was employed there until around 2006 when technology eventually made her position obsolete.

Throughout these years, Mickey created a welcoming, safe space in her home for many in our community that others cast out. As a member herself, she especially supported LGBTQI+ youth, or youth from abusive homes. She had a huge heart, gave everyone the benefit of the doubt, and was forgiving to a fault. Over the years she collected people, animals, and belongings in her menagerie of a home. With an open door policy, there were animals, plants, and people everywhere. She always shared everything she had, offering a warm meal, clothing, showers, whatever was needed. Many in our community got through some of the toughest years of their lives with Mickey's support.

Mickey spent her remaining years before retirement caretaking for a senior. As her client needed more and more care, she eventually moved them into her own home for the remainder of their years. Upon their passing, she retired and enjoyed her hobbies. A couple years after her retirement, a stroke paralyzed much of her right side, but this did not stop Mickey from enjoying life.

It took years of relearning, but Mickey amazed us all with the amount of activities she accomplished every day with one hand and limited mobility. Mickey had an amazing green thumb throughout her whole lifetime. She always created beautifully tranquil garden spaces wherever she happened to be. She loved to bring all the hummingbirds and butterflies to the area. She spent hours outdoor gardening on-handed daily from her off-road power chair right up until her final days. She still sewed up a storm with her best friend, and they sold their wares at local craft shows for many years. We will all cherish these items for years to come. She loved visiting with friends and family and had a full social life right up until the end.

Mickey was preceded in death by her eldest daughter, Mari Baker, and her mom, Molly Johnson, her in-laws Mr. and Mrs. D. Ferguson, whom she took care of in their elderly years. She is survived by her sister Shryl Kirkbride, son Ronald Baker, son Michael Baker & his wife Amber, her daughter Julyn Baker, many grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as many adults and children throughout the community and beyond whom she helped raise in some form or another and considered her family.

In lieu of traditional services, Mickey requested that we plant flowers in her honor wherever many people will enjoy them. We will be dedicating a space in her name in a local garden this spring. We will contact friends and family at that time, or you can reach out to her son Mike if you would like to be included.

Mickey, Céad Míle Fáilte, may your angels welcome you as openly and lovingly as you have welcomed all those in your life.