Earl Baker, 91

Oct. 20-1923 - June 26, 2015

Earl R. Baker passed away June 26, 2015, at 9 p.m.

Earl was born in Roundup, Mont., on Oct. 20, 1923, to Edward H. and Mary Ellen Baker. He had an older sister, Eva Lee and younger sister, Eila.

He lived in Montana in the early years and later in different cities in the Pacific Northwest; for the past 37 years in Hayden and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

During World War II, Earl served in the Army Air Corp, flying missions from China and India into Burma as a B-24 bomber, photographer and asst. radio operator. He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Alice Storer in Billings, Mont., on May 29, 1945, and graduated from Montana State College in Bozeman on June 6, 1950.

Earl worked 32 years for the Soil Conservation Service retiring in Hayden, Idaho, in 1983. He then became a fixture at the Silverwood Theme Park train depot.

He was grateful for the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., in 2013 on the Honor Flight with his daughter, Patty to view all the military memorials and parks.

Earl had a love for his home state of Montana as well as the Pacific Northwest which showed in his woodworking art, frame making and photography hobbies. He loved the beauty of nature and animals having been raised on Horse Thief Ranch, 10 miles west of Roundup and often talked of his years there.

Earl is survived by his wife, Mary of Coeur d'Alene; his daughter, Patty of Coeur d'Alene; his son, Ed of Richland, Wash.; his grandchildren, Janel and Brad; great-granddaughter Vivian; nephews Randy, Laury, Monty and Terry Sealey; nieces Dusty Sealey, Amby Trenka, Diane Munk and Tawny Nelson; along with many great-nephews and nieces. We'll all miss his ready smile and love of fun and laughter.

Family will gather to celebrate Earl's life at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3, 2015, at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens.