Constance Lucille "Connie" Baker

1937 - 2025

Horseshoe Bend - Constance Lucille Baker passed peacefully in her sleep on December 20, 2025, at Apple Valley Residence in Emmett, Idaho. Connie was born on April 7, 1937, in Emmett, Idaho, to Homer C. Beal and Dorothy F. Beal. She was the older sister of Roger F. Beal and the older half-sister of Sam, Tim, Wes, and John Holbrook.

Born during the Great Depression, Connie carried those lessons with her throughout her life-making the most of what she had and making it last. She grew up at The Beal Ranch in Ola and The Beal Homestead in High Valley where she became a rancher through and through. Her father instilled in her a lifelong love of animals and she often rode her horse to school at the Ola schoolhouse. As a young woman she was active in 4-H; proudly showing blue-ribbon steers. That love for animals never left her. Throughout her life she supported animal shelters and was always taking in strays, both animals and people.

She loved to read, was deeply passionate about the arts and was an accomplished singer, performing at the Morrison Center in Boise, singing opera, and playing the piano. She appeared in multiple productions at the Lewiston Civic Theatre and loved being on stage.

Connie was adventurous at heart. She loved hiking and was often found collecting antique bottles all over the mountains of Idaho as well as picking her beloved huckleberries on the hills of her families High Valley acres for which she knew every rock, stick and valley. Connie spent countless hours canning and sharing jars of homemade huckleberry jam. She enjoyed quilting, spinning yarn, sewing, and crafting-many family members still treasure dolls, pajamas, robes, quilts, and clothing she made with love.

She was an avid hunter, with many deer, cow elk, and five bull elk to her name. Connie was active in several local clubs and organizations and especially cherished her time with the ladies of the Syringa Club in the Sweet-Montour-Ola area.

She married Gary D. Baker, and though they later divorced, they remained friendly.

In the 1970s, Connie returned to school at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho, earning a degree in engineering and drafting. She worked for Morrison-Knudsen for 21 years as a senior draftsman in mining engineering; a career that allowed her to travel the world, including trips to China. She later worked for 12 years as Residence Manager at the Cottonwood Ranger Station in Cottonwood, Idaho, where she happily spent her days caring for Idaho's forests and hiking to her heart's content.

Connie is survived by her children, Mark E. Baker, Jennifer L. Baker, and Heather G. Baker; her 10 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and 7 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Roger F. Beal, and her longtime companion, Johnny Harnden.

Connie was greatly loved and will be deeply missed.

Services for Connie will be held Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 1:00p at Potter's Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Wayne White of River Life officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ola Hall or the Ola Community Church.