Marian W Baxter

Marian Westenskow Baxter – mother, wife, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away Thursday, January 22, 2015 after a long and productive life. Born January 6, 1925 to Irvin Anderson Westenskow and Lucy Mcbride in Imbler, Oregon. Marian, a consummate caregiver, was known for her determination and intellect, her faith, and her impeccable organization. She graduated from Union High School at age 16. She attended Eastern Oregon College and continued her education at Brigham Young University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree with High Honors in Education at age 20. She returned home to Oregon and immediately began teaching high school at her alma mater. She taught at several schools in Utah where she instructed Home Economics, English, and Utah History. Her teaching career lasted nearly 29 years – 23 years at Kearns Junior High. She met Alton Degraw Baxter in her teenage years in Oregon and the two were sealed for time and all eternity on June 4, 1946 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. The couple initially settled in Union, Oregon where three daughters blessed their home. They later moved to West Valley City, Utah. She loved to garden, play the organ and piano, sewing, genealogy, and ice cream. Music always permeated the walls of the Baxter home and the hearts of those that entered. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served faithfully in many callings – including the Junior Sunday School, Primary, and Relief Society - her favorite as an Organist occupied her efforts for decades. Her love of music passed onto her children – daughter LuAnn on the saxophone and daughter Sandi on the piano. Marians’ musical sight reading abilities were unmatched. She and her husband, along with daughter Karen, served an LDS CES Mission on the Crowe and North Cheyenne Indian Reservations in Montana. She lived in the LeGrande Oregon Stake, Kearns East Stake, Spanish Fork Utah River Stake, and Salem West Stake.

Her children and grandchildren loved her dearly and she loved them.

She is survived by her children Karen Lee Baxter of Salem, UT; LuAnn (Scott) Hansen, of Springville, UT; and Crysandra “Sandi” (Ronald) Hammond of Rexburg, ID (Amman, Jordan); ten grandchildren and twenty-seven great grandchildren.

Preceded in death by her parents, brother Richard A. Westenskow, grandson Michael Dean Hammond, and husband Alton DeGraw Baxter.

Viewings Tuesday January 27th from 6:00-8:00 pm and Wednesday at 10:00am with Services at 11:00am at the Valley View Memorial Park and Funeral Home - 4335 West 4100 South, West Valley City. Interment immediately to follow - Valley View Memorial Park.

The family thanks Beehive Homes Assisted Living in Salem, Utah for their remarkable and kind care.