Alice Ruth Baker

Alice Ruth Baker (née Phelps), 87, died peacefully on Sunday, May 20th, in Yakima, surrounded by her four children. Her sudden death followed a brief bout with pneumonia. Alice was born in Yakima on December 30, 1930, the youngest of three daughters born to Ruth Elaine Phelps (née Busch) and John MacDonald Phelps, and she lived in Yakima for most of her life.

Alice was a remarkable woman, known for her inquisitive intelligence and quick wit; her trained artist’s eye and creativity; her scholar’s love of history, poetry and literature; her patron’s enthusiasm for film, music, and the performing arts; her keen political understanding and informed patriotism; and her considered and dedicated championing of important societal causes, as reflected in her unwavering support for “the underdog” at all times. These interests and qualities were manifested through her empathic and compassionate heart, steeled by an early, life-changing experience of tremendous pain and profound grief – a trauma that easily could have overwhelmed or stunted a less-resilient soul.

Alice faced the world and charmed those around her through her enormous reserve of humor, which was frequently focused on contemporary politics and timeless human foibles, including her own. With studied comic timing, she could be counted on to share her unique perspective in any given situation. Her humor was sometimes risqué, but never cruel, though it could encompass, particularly in later years, effective use of the occasional well-aimed epithet…for Alice was never one to suffer fools gladly. Her buoyant humor was ingrained in her from the earliest, happy golden years of her childhood. A colorized Easter photo of her from this time was featured in the “rotogravure” newspaper supplement.

The Phelps girls were proud to have descended from a family of “pioneer” Yakima educators, which, in addition to their sweet mother, Ruth, included their maternal grandfather, Jacob K. Busch, a prominent school district superintendent in Central Washington in the early twentieth century. Alice’s mother graduated from Washington State Normal School (now Central Washington University) in Ellensburg, with a Life Diploma in 1922, and would serve as a teacher at various stages in her life.

Alice and her sisters were equally proud of their cherished father, John M. Phelps, a respected Horticulture Inspector for Yakima County. John was a WWI veteran, having served as a 1st Lieutenant, 161st Infantry, training troops in France in 1918-19. He wed Ruth in Yakima in September 1923. John was a thirty-second degree Mason and member of Lodge No. 24 and member of the American Legion; he also served in the Washington National Guard in the 1920s. John played guitar and is remembered for his beautiful tenor, with which he enchanted his family and the congregation at the First Methodist Church. In good weather, when able, John would load his family into his truck for one of his day-long tours inspecting local farms and orchards. As he drove, he entertained his girls with his sweet lyric voice and his infectious good humor. The daughters adored their father and during these magical outings they developed a deep connection to the land and a respect for the agricultural community in the region, which also included several members of their extended family.

In late-October 1940, Alice’s family was left devastated at John’s sudden death, at age 46, due to a heart attack. Alice was just two months shy of turning ten. In addition to the shattering emotional loss for the young family, the blow signaled an onslaught of financial burdens that impacted the family during much of the 1940s. Surviving the shock of her husband’s death, Alice’s mother eventually returned to teaching, and the availability of good teaching positions required the family to frequently relocate around the region, but they always returned to their strong family connections in Yakima. During this time, the bereft family drew closer to John’s large family, including his brother, Alpheus Harrison “Harry” Phelps. Harry quickly earned the moniker of “Beloved Uncle Harry” – which the three daughters would decades later have inscribed on his tombstone in fondest gratitude for the familial love and support he provided his grief-stricken relations during their most difficult time.

Due to her mother’s frequent job relocations, Alice ended up attending several schools in the Yakima area, including Adams Elementary, Washington Junior High, Wapato High School, Yakima Senior High School (later renamed A. C. Davis), and White Swan High School. In her teen years, Alice worked at various jobs around the Valley -- including as an attractive theater usherette at the now-demolished Roxy Theatre in downtown Yakima.

In 1949, Alice graduated from Valley High School in Menlo, WA, as a member of the Honor Society. Her mother was then teaching in nearby Raymond, WA. After graduation, Alice returned to Yakima to share an apartment with her sister, Marilyn, and enrolled in college courses at what is now Yakima Valley College, pursuing studies in business and art. Oil painting and art would remain life-long interests. Young and independent, Alice joined Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company in April 1951 as a Telephone Operator. She continued working for the PT&T Company until shortly after her 1955 marriage.

In late 1954, Alice met Fredrick Thomas Baker, while the two were out on a double-date with different partners. The chemistry between the petite dark-haired beauty and the tall, handsome blond was immediate. After a brief courtship, the couple married on February 11, 1955. Alice, who had been baptized in the Methodist faith of her parents, chose not to convert to Catholicism at the time of her marriage – a surprisingly independent choice for the time period – so the couple’s wedding ceremony was held inside the “old” St. Paul’s School in Yakima, rather than the Cathedral next door, and they agreed to raise their children as Catholic. The happy newlyweds formed a loving and committed partnership that endured and thrived for the next 53 years, until the time of Fred’s passing.

Alice’s new husband, Fred, was a U.S. Army veteran, who had been stationed in Germany during the Korean conflict; he had graduated from the University of Washington under the G.I. Bill. By 1954, when the couple met, Fred was newly hired by Ted Robertson for the staff of one of the two papers that would merge to become the “Yakima Herald-Republic” where Fred would work for the next two decades, eventually promoted to National Advertising Sales Manager. Fred later left the paper to start his own successful advertising agency, Baker & Associates, where he enjoyed serving his many loyal clients, even into semi-retirement.

In their years of active parenthood, Alice and Fred were ideally partnered. Alice proved to be the very embodiment of maternal love, with all of the attributes of strength, tenderness, patience, understanding, selflessness, humor, and grace that comprise it. Motherhood was as second nature to her.

Alice adored her entire family. Along with Fred, she loved spending time with each and every one of them, delighting in their company and reveling in their disparate personalities, focusing on each of their interests while sharing her own with them, and celebrating each person’s achievements. Her robust and unmistakable laugh was a source of great joy to those around her, and when she and her two sisters – with whom she remained close throughout her life, even when geographically separated – were able to get together to share their laughter, that joy was unbounded.

Shortly before 1970, Alice returned to full-time work outside the home. She rejoined what, by then, had become Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone Company (PNB), where she initially returned to her former position of Operator for several more years. Alice found PNB to be remarkably progressive and flexible in supporting her need to strike a balance between work and family, as she and Fred both continued working while raising their children. At this time, Alice also took on the added responsibility of serving as her beloved mother’s primary caregiver and advocate during Ruth’s declining years.

As a “phone company” employee, Alice recognized the progressive benefits she enjoyed were hard-earned and largely the result of battles fought by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) labor union, which she joined and proudly served in for the rest of her career, participating in organized strikes and protests, as needed, to help improve the lives of her fellow workers.

Alice stayed with PNB -- and its later incarnations, including the regional company, US West, Inc. -- for the next two decades, earning and being recognized with many service awards. During these years, she took advantage of available job opportunities, and successfully navigated the corporate landscape through a turbulent period marked by company break-ups, mergers, and consolidations brought on by the myriad technological advances occurring in the communications industry – changes that resulted in the elimination of or reduction in many traditional industry jobs, including her original position of Telephone Operator.

In April 1992, Alice celebrated 41 years of service with U S West Communications, Inc. (now known as CenturyLink) and was deservedly honored during a retirement event hosted by the company. By then, Alice was a Life Member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.

To keep active in her retirement, Alice served for many years as a volunteer at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center (now Astria Regional Medical Center), greeting visitors and incoming patients and helping all feel welcome and comfortable.

In their retirement years, Alice and Fred traveled together extensively throughout the continental United States, as well as Alaska and Hawaii, visiting many scenic, historic sites, often accompanied by other family members. During these trips, the couple took time to research both of their family histories. On one such trip to the East Coast, they traced her mother’s family line back as far as Elizabeth Ball, the sister of George Washington’s mother, Mary. During excursions to Canada, they visited Fred’s family and researched his Canadian genealogy. They also visited Mexico and various European countries, including Germany, revisiting sites where Fred had served during the Korean conflict. Alice’s last overseas trip was a cruise through the Panama Canal in late spring 2006 with her two sisters.

Alice and Fred joyfully celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary at an intimate family gathering, hosted by their four children, at Whistlin’ Jack Lodge on Chinook Pass in February 2005.

With the December 2007 publication of a volume of poetry Fred composed in his final year, entitled “Birches” – Alice received the singular honor of having a book of over 125 poems dedicated to her, with Fred’s loving and reflective inscription: “This book is dedicated to Alice Ruth Baker. Oh, precious wife, my dearest one, you brought blue skies and summer sun, as down the Path of Time we strolled, together young, together old.” To grace the cover of his book, Fred and his editors selected the image of an oil painting Alice painted decades earlier: in the early 1960s, Alice captured the tranquil image of lakeside birches against the powerful backdrop of Goose Egg Mountain, during one of the family’s many summer outings to Rimrock Lake.

In addition to the death of her husband and life partner, Fredrick Thomas Baker on June 7, 2008, and her cherished parents, John MacDonald Phelps in 1940, and Ruth Elaine Phelps in 1980, Alice is preceded in death by several in-laws, cousins, aunts, and uncles, including her beloved uncle Alpheus “Harry” Harrison Phelps in 1961.

Alice is survived by her four children: Rosemary Baker-Monaghan (and Daniel Monaghan), of Seaside, OR; Douglas Patrick “Pat” Baker, of Yakima, WA, who served as her devoted, primary caregiver in her final years; Carrie Ann Julian (and Robert Julian), of Kennewick, WA; and Daniel Clinton Baker, of Seattle, WA; as well as her grandson, Zackary Thomas “Zack” Julian, of Kennewick, WA; her step-grandson Ryan Julian, of Kennewick, WA; and her two older siblings; Phyllis Phelps-Spencer, formerly of Oakland, CA, now of Clearfield, UT; and Marilyn Gilmore (née Phelps), formerly of Anchorage, AK, now of Kennewick, WA; her two sisters-in-law, Patricia St. Hilaire (née Baker), of Yakima, WA, and Marjorie Cavallero (née Baker), of Aptos, CA; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Pastor Dan Rogers will officiate at graveside services to be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 22, 2018, at Tahoma Cemetery, 1802 Tahoma Avenue, Yakima, WA. Services will include the reading of a poem written by Alice’s late husband. Langevin - El Paraiso Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.