I was born Rachea Lee Webb on September 22, 1940 in Tahlequah Oklahoma. I have 10 brothers and sisters (Mary, Geraldine, Mae, Bathus, Dwight, Ima, Ed, Barbara, Ben, and Gary Ivanhoe who became my brother after he was orphaned at age 2). It didn’t matter how poor we were, Mom and Pop always had food on the stove: ham and beans, chicken and dumplings, or biscuits and gravy I sure miss them.
In addition to family, I loved school, especially my friends at Oroville High School. Oh Betty Sue, Dutchie, Marva, I would like to see you before I die. Let’s meet at 1911 Fort Wayne Street or the Feather River. After High School, I enrolled into Chico State College where the whole world opened up to me. All I had to do was open a book, listen to stories, and go to lectures. It was a magical time for me and where I met your dad. We fell in love, got married, and had our first baby. We had very little money and no car, but it didn’t matter because we had a bicycle, we had our place on Cherry Lane, and we had each other.
Eventually we moved to Southern California where Bill got a teaching job, and we went on to have 3 more babies. With 4 kids, I became creative in finding time for myself. I became a Girl Scout leader where I could be with the kids and also learn new things for myself like tying knots, lashing rope, and building a campfire. I also joined a bowling league and made life long friends with Karen McCreary, Dink Coggins, Carol Fuller and Wendy Wells. Oh friends, how I miss you.
I went back to college in the late 70’s to learn computer programming, and I began working at UC Irvine Medical Center and then Chapman College. I will never forget the students, the Wassailing, and the Bower’s Museum. I loved traveling to Hawaii and Cancun with Bill and my friends.
After we moved to Washington, your dad and I opened up the Diabetes Control Center. Loads of work but so proud. I found more passions: music lessons, gardening, tea parties, cooking, and most important seeing my kids and grandkids. I feel lucky that your dad and I got thru some tough times. I love his laugh. He is still so handsome, although in the 70’s I didn’t like that mustache too much. And he took such good care of me. I really love him and he really loves me. I promise that in my next life I will play golf.
I hope that I am remembered for being me, Rachea Lee Baker. That I am remembered for trying to be a better person, for loving you kids the best I could do, for Christmas, for Easter, for the beaches and the rivers, and for my laughter.
Words from her children:
Daughter, Jerri. “My mom had quiet but mighty spirit. She was stoic beyond our wildest dreams. She was passionate for teacups and fine china. She was a dare devil like the kind that jumps off high bridges. These past few years, we got to know each other in new ways. We left behind our big bags and travelled more lightly down a new road, walls of aches and awkwardness vanishing. Toward the end of her life, she didn’t always remember me, but it would make us both laugh that she remembered her magical pink rain jacket, her beautiful red Subaru, and last but not least, The Whopper Burger. And she always asked for her beloved Bill. My last memory of her chuckling was when I told her that I ran around the hospital butt naked. And her last words to me were, “Hey, how are you doing?” Mom, I’m sure going to miss you.”
Daughter, Renee. “Mom was eager for fun gatherings at lakes, beaches and rivers, making cuisine food, and tears of laughter with her sisters and with her grandchildren. She had a heart of gold for widows and the fatherless placed in her life, as well as her nieces and nephews. In her later years, she lived with grace and saw the beauty in people and life; most especially - Dad. I am so grateful for her “beautiful weave” as found in the poem titled, The Plan of the Master Weaver, and the beauty of returning to the important things in life. Mom taught me to forgive so that I can be in the moment and love more freely. Towards the end, her best long memories were drawing her back home. She remembered the need to pray and to be close to those in her presence.”
Daughter, Cheryl. “Mom was happiest in water…fresh or ocean. She was a woman of service, a person who invested in the future. She spent time baking cookies and waiting in anticipation for the grandkids to knock at her door. She loved everything Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. She was creator of magnificent feasts for all who gathered around to celebrate holiday traditions.”
Son, Chris. “My mom was determined and always willing to work hard. She was fiercely loyal and kind to all family. She would get sad about all the problems in the world but remained hopeful that everything would work out. And no matter how I felt or what I might be going through at the time, she always smiled with her eyes from pure joy just to see ME.”
Chapel and Graveside service, Saturday, September 25th, 2021 at 1pm. Miller Woodlawn Chapel, 5505 Kitsap Way, Bremerton, WA. (360) 377-7648
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Rachea Lee Baker’s name to one of the following organizations:
The Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA
Hilarity for Charity (HFC) bringing light to Alzheimer’s
Molly’s Movement – real life videos of those facing dementia. 6724 Perimeter Loop Rd, PMB 122, Dublin, OH 43017
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18