Bruce James Baker

Bruce was born in San Gabriel California to Robert and Janet Baker. He grew up in Arcadia California and spent many summers with his family at Diamond Lake. Working and enjoying all the beauty that being in the mountains has to offer. After graduating high school, he was drafted and went into the US Navy where he served on the USS Ranger as an aviation firefighter. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Bruce really became the definition of a “jack of all trades”. Throughout his life he was a member of the butcher’s union, a journeyman carpenter, a handyman, maintenance man, manager, mixologist and many other titles. His favorite titles though were Dad and Papa to his four children and seven grandchildren.

Bruce moved to Diamond Lake with his first wife and eldest daughter Michelle (Westlake); soon after they welcomed their second daughter Kimberly (Blum). After his divorce he chose to stay at Diamond Lake so he could continue to share similar experiences with his daughters that he had growing up. He met his second wife Debbie (Mast) when she moved to Diamond Lake in 1984. After many years of dating, they were married, and had two more children Lindsey (Marlia) and Kevin. Together they raised their children at Diamond Lake, teaching them how to do all the fun things that come with living in a national forest; most importantly they taught their children how to respect others and dig beneath the surface level to get to know someone. In 2006 they moved into a second home in Prospect to enroll Lindsey and Kevin in Prospect School District. He continued to work at Diamond Lake until June of 2014.

In 2014 Bruce and Debbie moved to Prospect full time where Bruce accepted a position at Prospect Schools as Head of Maintenance & Custodial. He worked for the school district until he retired in 2021. Being the hard worker that he was he continued to work summers for Jackson County Parks at Stewart Park where Debbie is a Park Ranger. His vast knowledge and skills served him well in the landscaping duties he provided through the summer of 2025.

In the midst of it all Bruce also served in the community. He was on the Prospect School Board before and after his employment there. He helped do down marker chains at high school football games, and was a part of many big decisions that helped shape the school into what it is today. His favorite memory of being on the board though was being able to sign and present both Lindsey and Kevin with their high school diplomas.

Bruce was proceeded in death by his parents (2021) and his grandson Brenden (2025) he is survived by his wife Debbie, his sisters Sally Baker-Opp (Doug) and Sue Baker, children Michelle Westlake (Andy), Kimberly Blum, Lindsey Marlia (Aaron), Kevin Baker (Laney) six grandchildren Kaylie Blum, Dylan and Hope Westlake, Allie and Zeke Marlia, Norah Baker, as well as several nieces and nephews. “Heroes get remembered, Legends never die” Bruce will be remembered as a legend because the lessons and love he extended to those around him will never fade away. He never stopped learning, teaching, helping others or making them laugh. Those are life lessons that those who knew him will never forget.