Cathy and Steve Baker

Dr. Cathy Smith Baker leaves behind many enduring legacies, but foremost among them is her endless devotion as a wife and mother. Her sudden passing primarily leaves behind her heartbroken children Paul (Cynthia), Michael (Johanna), and Debby (Bryan) as well as her three grandchildren Logan, Asher, and Bennett.

Born in Chicago on January 5, 1950, Cathy was adopted as an infant by Dr. John Beverly Smith and his wife, Cleone Margaret, and raised in Dayton, Ohio alongside her sister, Diane. After graduating with high honors from Fremont High in 1967 she went on to earn a pre-med degree from The University of Dayton and a medical degree from Ohio State University. Her residency at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan led to her meeting and falling in love with Dr. Steven Baker and after an 11 month courtship they married in October of 1976. During their nearly 50 years of wedded harmony, they set up a medical practice in Grand Rapids, welcomed three children together and in 1993 moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where Cathy was employed by Quad Graphics until her retirement.

She brought her signature laugh to every endeavor, most notably her participation in The United Methodist Women's Group and her family's many cross-country trips to national parks. A keen gardener, Cathy was also a gifted knitter and an endlessly proud grandmother. The loss of her kind and compassionate presence leaves a void in the life of everyone privileged enough to have known her and she is deeply missed.

Dr. Steven Robert Baker was a loving husband, spectacular father, treasured father-in-law, and a devoted brother and friend. His passing leaves behind his devastated sons Paul (Cynthia) and Michael (Johanna), his daughter Deborah (Bryan) as well as three grandchildren and his own cherished sister and brothers.

Steven was born to Robert and Marcia Baker on October 13, 1948 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Along with his three younger brothers and sister he spent his childhood in the suburb of Wyoming and his large capacity for caring eventually led him into the medical field. He received his pre-med degree from Hope College and graduated with his MD from The University of Michigan School of Medicine. With his degree in hand, he started the residency program at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids where he met his future wife, Dr. Cathy Smith. Steve and Cathy took an immediate liking to each other, despite the fact that her alma mater was Ohio State University School of Medicine, and they married 11 months later on October 16, 1976. Together they opened a family practice in Grand Rapids, MI and began to grow their own family shortly thereafter.

Steve served in a number of roles during his medical career and his goal was always to increase access to medical services across the region and improve the efficiency of care. He worked for several different HMOs, hospitals, and insurance companies to accomplish this - most notably as Medical Director of the West Michigan Blue Care Network and as a consultant to MiIliman and Robertson. A few years of traveling for his career and being away from his family led him to take a new management position in Milwaukee, ten minutes from home and flexible enough to attend his children’s sporting events and activities. He went on to work for Elmbrook Hospital and later Humana before retiring.

Outside of work, Steve was beloved for his groan-inducing puns and dad jokes, as well as the care and attention he lavished on his family and friends. He had a well-known passion for sports, being both an avid golfer and baseball player in his younger years and having a lifelong obsession with the University of Michigan football and basketball teams. This extended to him rarely being seen without an item of Michigan clothing and his home décor preferences always involved the Maize and Blue. In addition, he was a fan of the music of the 50s and 60s, passing that love down to his children who still know all the words to his favorite songs.

While our hearts are broken by his passing, all of us who were lucky enough to know and love this wonderful man will miss his quick wit and gift with words as well as his patience, kindness, and love. The world is just not as bright without Steven Baker in it.

A joint memorial and visitation for Steve and Cathy will be held from 12-2 p.m. Sunday, March 16, 2025 at Cook Memorial Chapel, 4235 Prairie St., SW, Grandville, MI. The family welcomes memories and messages at www.cookcaresgrandville.com in their guestbook online.