Vernon Leroy Baker

Vernon Leroy Baker, 80, of Joseph, died Jan. 27 at Evergreen Health and Rehab in La Grande. At his request, no formal services will be held. He was buried Feb. 3 at Joseph Cemetery.

Vernon was born March 14, 1929, to Oscar and Mary Jane (Arthur) Baker in Vincennes, Ind. At age 16, Vern moved to Globe, Ariz., with his family. He later became a demolition man with the Arizona National Guard. Asking for a discharge to join the Army, he received pull training at Fort Ord, Calif., and was sent to fight in the Korean Campaign. He returned to Arizona after the service and became a police officer with the Miami Police Force and later worked as deputy sheriff.

In the 1970s, Vern and his wife Mary moved to Enterprise. He was employed by Hammock International Harvester and then the city of Enterprise at his retirement.

In 1997, Vern married Nancy Hollister and lived at their home in Joseph until the day before his death. He loved hunting, fishing and shooting. He was an avid gun trader and craftsman. Peace pipes and deer horn handle knives were two of his favorites.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy of Joseph; daughters, Joann Sells of Phoenix, Ariz., and Vicky Thompson of Clarksville, Tenn.; step-children, Cordy Zollman of Joseph, Monty and his wife, Jen Zollman, of Joseph and Cresta and her husband, Scott Kelso, of Vale; sister, Velma and her husband, Ben Smith, of Claypool, Ariz.; and brothers, Wayne and his wife, Jane Baker, of Claypool and Ron and his wife, Mary Baker, of Claypool.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Curtis Baker; and half-sisters, Catherine and Freda.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wallowa Memorial Home Health/Hospice.

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