Sharon Louise Baker

Sharon Louise Baker, a lifelong Portland native, devoted educator, passionate gardener, enthusiastic traveler, and dedicated community volunteer, passed away on October 7, 2026, in Portland, Oregon, at the age of 87. Throughout her life, Sharon embraced the world with curiosity, generosity, and an enduring enthusiasm for learning, teaching, and experiencing all that life had to offer.

Born on April 10, 1939, in Portland, Oregon, Sharon grew up in the city she would always call home. She attended Kellogg Elementary School, where she participated in Blue Birds, Camp Fire Girls, and student council. At Franklin High School, she was an active and involved student, participating in the Pep Squad, Service Club, Social Club, National Honor Society, debate, oratory, poetry, and other school activities. She also represented Multnomah County on a United Nations youth pilgrimage. Her high school years left her with fond memories of friendships, dances, clubs, and the simple pleasures of growing up in Portland.

Following her graduation from Franklin High School, Sharon pursued her calling in education, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Portland State University in 1962 and a Master of Science degree in Special Education from the University of Oregon in 1969.

Sharon devoted 36 years of her life to teaching, including 32 years with Portland Public Schools. Her early career took her far beyond Oregon when she taught elementary school students through the Department of Defense Overseas Dependent Schools in Germany and Okinawa during the 1960s. For Sharon, one of the greatest rewards of teaching overseas was the opportunity to explore the world. She traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa, developing a lifelong appreciation for different cultures, places, and people.

Her dedication to education extended particularly to children with special needs. She spent many years teaching students with physical and developmental disabilities at the Holladay Center and later worked as a special education teacher at Kenton Elementary School's Structured Learning Center. In 1976, she traveled to Costa Rica to work with teachers in support of children with physical disabilities. Throughout her career, Sharon also provided individualized instruction and tutoring, helping students develop essential skills and confidence in their abilities.

After more than three decades of service to education, Sharon retired in 1999. Retirement, however, was hardly a time for slowing down. Instead, it offered her the freedom to pursue her many interests with the same dedication and enthusiasm she had brought to her teaching career.

Gardening was among Sharon's greatest passions. Shortly after retiring, she enrolled in the Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardener Program, completing her certification in 2000. She quickly became an enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteer, dedicating countless hours to helping others discover the joys of gardening. Whether answering questions through the Master Gardener hotline, assisting visitors at the Hollywood Farmers Market, or sharing her expertise at the Washington Park International Rose Test Garden, Sharon delighted in helping people learn to cultivate beautiful and healthy gardens.

Her horticultural interests were both broad and deeply rooted in a desire to share knowledge. She continued her education in plant identification, botany, soil science, pest management, and plant care, and served as a docent at the Kaiser Poison Prevention Gardens, educating the public about potentially harmful plants and safer alternatives. Sharon believed in gardening as naturally as possible, with minimal reliance on pesticides, and took particular pleasure in helping others become more thoughtful and successful gardeners.

Another important part of Sharon's retirement was her volunteer work with the Portland Center for the Performing Arts. As an usher and committee member, she contributed more than 100 hours each year to supporting the performing arts in her community. She especially enjoyed meeting people and watching audiences, both young and old, experience the delight of live theater. Sharon believed deeply in the importance of providing welcoming, enjoyable, and professional theater experiences for everyone.

Her time volunteering at the theater also provided some wonderfully memorable moments, including a brief appearance in a production of Winnie the Pooh, during which she stepped into the action for just ten seconds and delivered three words.

Sharon was a woman of many interests, and her curiosity seemed to know no bounds. She loved reading, photography, music, cooking, snow skiing, and traveling. An avid reader and collector of books, she once described having ten bookcases filled with volumes on gardening, cooking, nature, history, travel, literature, and countless other subjects. For Sharon, there was always something new to discover, another subject to explore, or another skill to master.

Travel remained an important part of her life long after her teaching assignments overseas. In addition to her adventures throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa, she visited Costa Rica, Mexico City, Alaska, and numerous destinations throughout the United States. Each journey offered another opportunity to experience the world, learn something new, and create lasting memories.

Closer to home, Sharon cherished her 1910 Craftsman-style house in Portland's historic Irvington neighborhood. Her home and garden were a source of tremendous pride and enjoyment, and there always seemed to be another project awaiting her attention. She found satisfaction in caring for her surroundings, nurturing her plants, and creating a home that reflected her appreciation for history, beauty, and the natural world.

Perhaps most remarkable about Sharon was the fullness with which she lived her life. She never stopped being a teacher, even after leaving the classroom. Through her volunteer service, tutoring, gardening expertise, and countless everyday interactions, she continued to share her knowledge and encourage others. Her life reflected a belief that learning should never end, that communities are strengthened through service, and that the world is best experienced with an open mind and an adventurous heart.

In reflecting on her own life, Sharon once wrote, "For me life is busy and rewarding! Considering the highs and lows in life, I wish everyone the best!" Those simple words capture much of the spirit with which she approached her years: grateful for the opportunities she had been given, eager to make the most of each day, and generous in her hopes for others.

Sharon leaves behind a legacy of education, service, curiosity, a life richly lived, and many beloved family members and friends. She will be remembered for her independent spirit, her love of nature and the arts, her enthusiasm for travel and discovery, and the countless ways she enriched the lives of students, fellow volunteers, friends, and members of her community.