Patricia Baker

1940 - 2025

Patricia Baker
September 15, 1940 - November 4, 2025
Patti Baker, born September 15, 1940, in San Francisco, passed away peacefully in Santa Rosa on November 4, 2025, at age 85. She was the oldest of three children and grew up in the Lakeshore District, where she formed lasting friendships and spent summers in the Sierras, Yosemite, and the Russian River.
In 1961, Patti married and later welcomed three children: Mark Baker, Dan Baker, and Michele Baker (Tony Goodin). After her husband's passing in 1970, she moved her young family to the Petaluma area. During a visit in 1972, she immediately felt at home on a quiet Penngrove property surrounded by meadow and eucalyptus trees. She named it "Rancho Contento De Los Bakers," and it became a lively home known for its wildlife, gatherings, and her welcoming nature. Patti's Swedish, Irish, and Portuguese roots influenced her love of cooking and family history. Her kitchen was a place where relatives and friends often gathered to share meals and conversation. She shared her interest in food through her newspaper column, Patti's Platter, which featured recipes, restaurant reviews, and personal stories. Starting in the mid-1980s, she also created a 350-page personal journal filled with family stories, recipes, photos, and reflections. Patti worked for twenty years at Lace House Linen, helping the business transition into modern technology. She later managed the restaurant at the Little River Inn before returning to Petaluma in 1992 to work in real estate with her brother, Rich Johnson.
She is survived by her three children; her siblings, Rich Johnson (Linnea Koagedal) and Lynn Butler (John Butler); her cousin Stephanie Lynch and her son Sean Lynch; and her nieces Genevieve Cannon and Gretchen Gelb and Gretchen's children, Lily, Eli, and Jesse Gelb. She is also survived by many extended family members and friends. Patti was preceded in death by her parents, Mervyn and Mildred Johnson; her husband, Joe Baker; her nephew, Matthew Cannon; her cousin, Frawley Lynch; and several other relatives.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Penngrove Social Fireman Clubhouse in March 2026. Patti will be remembered for her warmth, humor, creativity, and love of bringing people together. Her longtime motto remains: "Good Food, Good Meat. Good God, Let's Eat!"