Robert "Bob" Baker October 12, 1938 - December 7, 2013

Bob Baker of Sisters, Oregon passed away at his Rimrock Ranch home on December 7.

Born Robert Burton Baker in Duncanville, TX, Bob attended Duncanville High and graduated from East Texas State University. Following graduation, he was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps before attending Tulane University School of Law. Upon receiving his J.D. in 1964, Bob served as Series Commander, Recruit Depot San Diego before deploying to Iwakuni, Japan, as a judge advocate.

While in Asia, he made major before resigning and moving his family to Juneau, Alaska in 1969.

Over the next 30 years, Bob built a successful aviation defense practice in Alaska. He was a senior partner with Robertson-Monagle, the state's oldest firm, opening their Anchorage office in 1974. A noted litigator, he argued before the state Supreme Court and was inducted into the American College of Trial Attorneys.

In 1988, Bob purchased the Rimrock property with the dream of eventually settling there. He moved to Sisters in 2001, joining his wife, Gayle, who had purchased a small herd of Red Angus cattle. Over the next 10 years, the Bakers developed a productive cow-calf operation investing in breeding bulls and becoming Red Angus cooperators. A highlight each year was consigning a heifer to the "Bet on Red" Sale in Reno and socializing with other breeders. Having a wide range of interests, Bob enjoyed keeping bees, growing an orchard and raising heritage birds. He was passionate about land conservation and watershed restoration, dedicating time and resources to both.

He served on the board of the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, worked to restore fish habitat and a steelhead run in Whychus Creek and secured a conservation easement on his property from the Deschutes Land Trust. A voracious reader and booklover, he was past president of the Friends of the Sisters Library. Bob prized sharing his canyon with those he loved. He was happiest hosting the family campouts along Whychus Creek, trading stories around the fire and amazing all with his culinary skills.

We'll miss you, Papasan, the best husband, father, brother, and friend.

Bob is survived by his wife, Gayle, of Sisters; sister Marilynn Taylor; children Bridget Baker Cerny, Miles Baker and Brett Baker, and their mother Mary Pignalberi; and grandchildren Becket, Britt and Rhett Cerny.

Please join the family for a remembrance January 18, 11 a.m. at Rimrock Ranch, 18400 Wilt Rd., Sisters.