Barbara Baker

Barbara Baker was born in Dixon Wyoming on March 4, 1929 to Richard S. Barker and Vannie Virginia (Spencer) Barker. Barbara spent her childhood moving around the country, as Dick was in the Army and had to move frequently. Among the places she lived in addition to Wyoming, were Colorado, Kansas, Texas, Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Kentucky. While in Kentucky, Dick taught Barbara to ride an English saddle and how to jump horses. Barbara entered several shows and won in various saddle and jumping classes. In 1942 Dick was shipped out to join WWII and Virginia and Barbara drove back to Colorado, living with friends in Denver for a while, then with George and Emma Salisbury on the Snake River, eventually buying a motel in Steamboat Springs and running it with Dick’s mother. In the summer of 1946 Barbara contracted polio and spent several months in the hospital in Denver. She returned to Steamboat Springs in December and finished her senior year, graduating second in her class. Dick came back from the War and bought the McCollom place west of Baggs, Wyoming, in the Powder Wash area. That summer, Barbara went with Dick to gather horses, drive them out Great Divide Road to the ranch, and break them for various people. Barbara spent most of the next summer at the Salisbury Ranch on the Snake River. It was at this time that she met Bob Terrill. In the fall, Barbara went off to Western State College in Gunnison. In the Spring of 1948, Dick was called back to active duty in Fort Knox. He and Virginia drove through Gunnison, and after some discussion about the joys of seeing the Kentucky Derby again, convinced Barbara to go with them. After that tour of duty, Dick and Virginia moved back to the Snake River and Barbara came with them and taught school at Pleasant Valley near Steamboat Springs. Barbara and Bob Terrill were married on June 28, 1949. In 1951 they welcomed their first son, Patrick Hamilton Terrill, and in 1958 they welcomed their second son, Timothy Mitchell Terrill. After spending a few years living in Powder Wash, Barbara and Bob bought a home in Craig in 1963. Bob, who was diagnosed with diabetes, passed away in 1974. Barbara worked in the assessor’s office at the courthouse for a few years, then was elected County Clerk & Recorder in 1970. Barbara was re-elected to that position for four more terms, and was the County Clerk until 1990. During that time, Barbara was also on many boards and volunteered for many positions. The two organizations that were most dear to Barbara were The Museum of Northwest Colorado and the Interfaith Food Bank, and Barbara worked for both into her late 80’s. Barbara was truly the matriarch at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church for many decades as the church changed into what it is today, as a blended congregation of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and Lutheran Church of Grace, which was shortened to St. Mark’s Church of Grace. Barbara was the “go-to” person on anything dealing with church history, filing, bookkeeping, and working with numerous priests and pastors over the years. Bob Baker was always to be found with Barbara during the week while she was keeping everything afloat, and Bob was her “jack of all trades” in ensuring that everything was clean, maintained, and as up to date as possible. Every person in the congregation also knew which pew was Barbara’s seat, which Book of Common Prayer was hers, and goodness knows that no one would possibly sit in her seat. Barbara would also be the first to advise incoming priests that she knew and had memorized the Book of Common Prayer and knew not only the congregation’s responses, but the priest’s wording as well. She had a tremendous impact on every priest and pastor that was present, and maintained those relationships over the decades. Barbara met Bob Baker in the late 1970’s, and they were married in 1984. With that marriage, Barbara acquired two more children, Monique Forbes and Steve Baker. Barbara and Bob spent 32 happy years together before his death in 2017. They worked together and traveled together; they were seldom apart. After retirement, Barbara and Bob went on many cruises all over the world. They enjoyed these cruises immensely and were able to see every place on their bucket list. Their children insisted they carry their cell phone on these trips, which they did, turned off and in the bottom of their suitcase. Barbara was very involved with her grandchildren and spent many weekends and summers having them stay with her. She loved to play games and do crafts with them. All of the grandkids always knew that if they needed anything, Grandma would be there for them. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Bob Terrill, and her second husband, Bob Baker. Barbara is survived by her children, Pat (Liz) Terrill, Tim (Brenda) Terrill, Monique (Jay) Forbes, Steve (Mindy) Baker, and her honorary daughter, Toni Marshall; grandchildren Joe Terrill, Royce Terrill, Jaguar (Michayla) Terrill, Levi (Amber) Terrill, Lindsey Kawcak, Tate Terrill, Clay (Linda) Foulk, Katie (Heath) Hutchison, Alesha Forbes, Nathan Baker, Ian Felix, and Autumn Baker. She is further survived by great grandchildren Levi Terrill, Laila Terrill, Jaycob Foulk, Jace Foulk, Kali Hutchison, and Jasper Hutchison. Due to the social restrictions in place, Barbara’s family was unable to hold a proper service for her. We had to settle for a small, private service to comply with current regulations, and are very sorry we couldn’t include all of her friends.