Grandpa Baker

A little over a month ago we took a quick and crazy trip to Arizona. I told myself (and anyone who asked) that we wouldn't do a rushed drive across the country like that with three little ones again. Now, I couldn't be happier that we made that trip and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Exactly a month after we left Arizona, my grandpa passed away. We're so glad that we got to see him, though we didn't know it would be the last time. While it's especially sad for Grandma who will be alone now, it is wonderful to know that Grandpa will no longer have to suffer in his body that didn't work so well anymore.

I have lots of great memories of Grandpa. His big grin would light up the room. He loved to tease and share jokes. Jokes were especially funny when he told them because he would always get the punchline messed up. One I particularly remember was "What do you call a cow with no legs? . . . Hamburger!" (supposed to be ground beef). He would mix up words "I was watching that BVD" or "They moved into a condom in Phoenix." We would all get a good laugh, especially Grandma.

I love the way Grandpa would rhyme our names (He called me Stephanie Weffanie) and make up songs. He was cheerful and friendly to everyone. He called the girls "sister" and the boys "son." He loved his family and was very open about saying how much he loved all of us and how proud he was that we were making good choices and living the gospel.

One of my favorite memories was in the fall of 2005. Mike and I went down to spend Thanksgiving with Grandpa and Grandma. As we were getting ourselves ready for bed, we saw that Grandma and Grandpa were still awake in the living room. We went in and found them reading the Book of Mormon aloud together. Grandma was reading and Grandpa was following along. That August, President Hinckley had issued a challenge for everyone to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. Grandma invited us to sit down and join them if we didn't mind that they read read so slowly. Grandpa told us that he had grown up in the church and knew the stories of the Book of Mormon, but had never read the it straight through. I was so impressed by the two of them humbly following the prophet in the quiet of their home.

Aunt Nancy posted his obituary and my cousin Paula posted a tribute and some great old pictures. I went through the pictures I have of Grandpa and want to share some of them here.

Me and Grandpa on one of his horses. Probably my first time on a horse. Maybe 1981?

We were so happy that Grandpa and Grandma made the 12 hour drive to come to our wedding! August 2005

Mike and Grandpa ready for a scooter race. November 2005

Posing with the Christmas tree that we put up after Thanksgiving. November 2007

Eliza liked riding on Grandpa's scooter. July 2009

Four generations. Taken July 2009

It looks like Grandpa is asleep, but he's actually just looking down at Caleb (who is looking up so sweetly at him). I'm so glad that Caleb got to meet his Great Grandpa. March 2010


Love you and miss you, Grandpa!