John (Jack) Lincoln Baxter, Jr. March 11, 1920 - October 8, 2015

John (Jack) Lincoln Baxter, Jr., age 95, passed peacefully October 8, in Loveland, Colorado.

Jack, an Oregon resident for almost 50 years, was born on March 11, 1920, the sixth generation of Baxters in Brunswick, Maine. The Baxters were known for their philanthropy and public service in political office as governors and mayors in the 1920s, and were pioneers in the food processing business in the 19th and 20th centuries.

He is survived by his son, John (Randy) Baxter, of Loveland, Colorado; daughters, Connie Baxter Marlow of Aspen, Colorado and Judy Baxter of Denver, Colorado; as well as five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two nephews.

Jack graduated Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Bowdoin College in 1942 after attending Deerfield Academy. The day after his graduation he married his high school sweetheart Alice Comee. They settled in Pittsfield, Maine and raised three children Randy (John) (b.1943), Connie (b. 1946) and Judy (b.1955).

Jack carried forth the Baxter mandate of service to humanity throughout his inspiring life. He became president of the pioneering family food processing business H.C. Baxter & Bro/Snowflake Canning Co, and was Majority Leader of the 100th Maine Legislature as well as Vice-Chairman of the Governor's Executive Council before he and Alice, with daughter Judy, moved to Oregon in 1965, when Jack merged the family business with and became president of Lamb-Weston, Inc. in Portland, Oregon.

He merged that company with and subsequently became executive vice president of the Fortune 500 Company Amfac, Inc, and was C.E.O of Amfac Foods from 1971 until his retirement in 1981. Like his father before him, John L. Baxter, Sr., Jack was a leader in the food processing business and became president of various national industry associations.

During the 47 years he lived in Lake Oswego and Sisters he was Chairman of the Oregon Educational Coordinating Commission; Director of the Portland Chamber of Commerce; Director of the Oregon Graduate Institute; Chairman of the Foundation for Oregon Research in Education and a life trustee at Lewis and Clark College where he donated a photography scholarship. Jack was identified as a true contributor to America by "Who's Who in America" in 1982-1983.

In the mid-'80s he and Alice moved to Black Butte Ranch, where Jack was able to play golf, hunt, ride his horse, ski and generally enjoy the outdoor life between adventurous trips around the world photographing the people and places he encountered. His photographs were exhibited internationally. To see his photography go to http://bit.ly/RhythmsofCreation

JLBPhotos.

Jack spent his final three years in independent living at The Hillcrest in Loveland, Colorado, to be close to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Surrounded by his photography and art, with horses grazing in the field outside his window Jack sat in his chair in the sun passing the day with another favorite past-time - reading The Denver Post and The New York Times from front to back. His humor, smile and positive attitude made Jack a favorite of his caregivers.

His loving support and respect for all he encountered will be greatly missed and always appreciated as he lives on in their memories of a life well-lived.

His ashes were interred in the Baxter family plot in Pine Grove Cemetery, Brunswick, Maine on October 24, with a gathering of friends and family to bid him a fond farewell.