Kiara Baker

Kiara Baker, age 19, left this world for a heavenly one on January 31st 2024 after waging a long courageous battle with mental illness. It was a battle that most didn’t know she was fighting. The family would like to thank the Amen Clinic, along with all the other professionals, who helped her stay undefeated in that battle for as long as she did.

Kiara was born on October 23rd 2004 in Sandy Utah to Slate Baker and Melissa Goodman Baker. She was the last of four children. Anyone who knew Kiara knew she liked to do things in style. Coming into this world was no different. As she was being born the umbilical cord was wrapped very tightly around her neck several times and the doctor had to use his steady hand to cut it without harming her in the process. The doctor got her breathing and handed her off to the nurse who placed Kiara on a scale. The nurse exclaimed, “This girl has impeccable timing! She was born at 10:23 on 10/23!” As a teenager Kiara would get a tattoo of 10:23 on her arm as a reminder of just how special and unique she is.

As a little girl Kiara was an absolute magnet to everyone around her. She loved playing with her brother and sisters. She and her siblings would always remain a tight-knit group. As a little girl she was her daddy's buddy. She loved to steal his Dr. Pepper and go for rides on the back of his Harley. As she grew up, she developed an extremely close relationship with her mom, whom she admired greatly. When she was four years old, she attended an extended family reunion at Fish Lake Utah. Her great grandfather told her she was such a sweetheart. For several years after that when asked her name she would reply, “My grandpa calls me sweetheart!” She had a great imagination and a real flair for the dramatic. Many nights were spent watching her fashion shows, skits, listening to songs she wanted to perform, etc. Even as a little girl Kiara was a perfectionist. She did her very best to excel at everything she put her hand to. She was always near the top of her class at school. In fifth grade she got a little taste of what it was like to be on the ‘big stage’ at her 5th grade musical. She always had great stage presence and loved to sing.

As she moved into middle school she began putting her hand to new things. Her willingness to step out of her comfort zone into the unknown started becoming a trademark for Kiara that would stay with her from then on. She started performing in plays such as 101 Dalmatians, Honk (The Ugly Duckling), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with the Platte Valley Players. She loved practicing her lines, singing, dancing, and just performing in general. Around this time, she began teaching herself to play the ukulele. Once she got the keys and chords down she started writing lyrics and putting those lyrics to song. This was a talent that she continued to nurture and develop for the rest of her life. It was therapeutic for her and a way to cope with some of the struggles she faced as an adolescent girl. She put her whole self into the songs she wrote. We have spent many evenings around a firepit with her singing her songs and playing the ukulele to the delight and awe of those around her. Her choruses were always catchy and her lyrics profound. She had a gift of putting into songs the joy, hurt, hope, heartbreak and love that she experienced in her life. I think that’s what made her songs so relatable to those listening.

As Kiara moved into High School, she once again began branching out and trying new things. She joined the Broomfield High School volleyball team. While Kiara wasn’t tall, there was hardly a backline return she couldn’t make. Many hours were spent in the backyard practicing serving and returning. She also discovered a new passion for hairstyling. In fact she had a gift for it. She had a talent not just in cutting, coloring, and styling hair, but also in making conversation and friends in the process. It was almost as if she was uncovering a skill she had been born with rather than something she was learning for the first time. Although she lacked experience, several of her clients would go on to say that Kiara gave them the best haircut they’d ever had. Hairstyling wasn’t the only area where Kiara discovered a gift. Writing also became an area where Kiara shone brightly. Her English teacher, upon learning that Kiara was considering going into hairstyling, said Kiara was one of the most gifted writers she’d seen in years. She was dismayed at the thought that Kiara might choose a career in something other than writing. Her essays were always very persuasive and backed up with research and data. Kiara’s dad fancies himself somewhat of a wordsmith, and near the end of Kiara’s high school career he had to admit that she had surpassed him in writing. Kiara finished high school graduating Magna Cum Laude from Broomfield High School and was awarded the only internship for hairstyling in the Boulder County School District.

The last three months of Kiara’s life she lived in Ogallala Nebraska with her boyfriend Christian. Chistian's cousin Mckayla quickly became one of her closest friends as well. These months were among the happiest of her latter teen years. Always the romantic, she placed notes of affirmation and encouragement in Christian’s lunchbox. She finally had the opportunity to give love and support as she saw her mom do throughout her life.

Perhaps the biggest gift that Kiara possessed was compassion and the insight into others’ needs. She could always tell when somebody was hurting inside and would go out of her way to help. Her big bright beautiful smile had a way of breaking down walls and building bonds of friendship. Her ability to connect with others in just a short period of time was something that came naturally to her. Little children in particular were drawn to her in an uncommon way. She loved hiking the mountains of Colorado, Glacier National Park, and Olympic National Park and loved the ocean as well. Kiara took pride in being physically fit and hitting the gym was a way of managing the stress in her life. Kiara's appearance was important to her and she was well put together in public. She loved thrift shopping and finding new outfits to wear. Most of all she was kind, hardworking, passionate, independent, and strong. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her light shone so very brightly. We all just wished her light would have burned longer.

Kiara is survived by her Father Slate Baker, Mother Melissa Baker, and three siblings Siena, David Baker (Shyanne), and Bresciana Allen (Clarke).

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday February 9th at 1:30 pm at the Olinger Funeral Home located at 10201 Grant St Thornton, CO 80229. The Celebration of Life will be followed with a reception from 2:30-4:30.

While flowers are very much appreciated, please also consider making a donation to the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. Donate to Brain Research BBRFoundation focuses on researching mental disorders with the goal to increase understanding and treatment options and 100% of the donation goes to actual research..