Gerald F. Baker

Gerald Franklin Baker, a resident of Cottonwood since the spring of 1978 passed away at Carefree Assisted Living Center on December 9, 2011. He was born October 11, 1921 on a homestead in Russell, Iowa the second of 5 children to Franklin and Isis (Buoy) Baker. He married Elva Coffey on June 22, 1942 and farmed until enlisting in the United States Marine Corp on January 4th, 1943. He served in the Pacific Campaign until 1945. They sold the farm in 1963 and moved to Page, Arizona working on the Glen Canyon Dam. He then sold and moved 110 houses used to house people who made the movie Greatest Story Ever Told. They moved to Flagstaff where they spent the next 17 years. He had a Behlen Building Franchise and built a store and gas station on Lake Powell. He worked in heavy construction all over the US until moving to Cottonwood in 1980. When he retired he made fine hardwood furniture for family members and many others. He is survived by daughter Patricia Petty of Cottonwood, Arizona, Shirley Nesbitt of Hood River, Oregon, 4 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Gerald was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Isis Baker, his wife Elva, sisters Mina, Nell, Dorothy and brother Don. A visitation will be held on Thursday December 15 in the Westcott Funeral Home from 12-1 PM. A funeral service will follow at 1 PM. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Hospice Compassus, 70 Bell Rock Plaza, Sedona, AZ 86351. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com