Gordon Calvin Baker was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Willis and Helen Baker on May 4, 1937, and passed away in Raymond, Calif., after a courageous battle with cancer on Sept. 1, 2012, at the age of 75.
Raised in Southern California, Gordon attended San Jose State, completing his college education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he met the love of his life Suzanne Baker. Gordon and Suzanne married on June 28, 1960. Upon completion of his degree in Animal Husbandry, Gordon moved his young family to Le Grand, Calif., where he worked as a professional cowboy on ranches in Chowchilla and Le Grand for several years. Realizing that, although he loved being a cowboy, it didn't pay very well, Gordon returned to Cal Poly and earned his Master's and teaching credential and began a lifelong career as an educator. His first teaching position was in Lovelock, Nevada, where he taught Ag at Pershing County High School. Moving back to Merced in 1971, Gordon taught at Mc Swain Elementary, Le Grand High School, Valley High School, and was a member of the Raymond School Board for many years.
In 1990, Gordon and Suzanne moved to Raymond, Calif., where Gordon could be found each morning trading stories at the Raymond Country Club (the Raymond General Store). Gordon never met a stranger - once you met Gordon, you were friends for life. His gift of storytelling and his contagious laugh endeared him to all. He loved team roping, was active in his church, and was the biggest fan and supporter of Suzanne's career as an artist.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Helen Baker, and brother-in-law, George Pearce. He is survived by his partner and wife of 52 years, Suzanne Baker, children, Brett Baker (Karen), Hoss Baker, and Jenny Salazar (Rene), all of Merced. He is also survived by five grandchildren Jillian Salazar, Sophia Salazar, John Salazar, Olivia Baker and Hunter Baker, his sister, Carol (Kenny) Johnson, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the ranch of his close friend and sister-in-law Molly (John) Combs, 1050 Ben Hur Road, Raymond, Calif.
