Chester C. Baker Jr, 77, of Grants, NM, went to be with the Lord on June 11, 2017. He was born on May 22, 1940 in Hickory Ridge, Arkansas to Ida Wray (Sissy) and Chester C. Baker Sr.
He moved to Clifton, AZ, with his family when he was 3 and later graduated from Morenci High School. He attended Eastern Arizona College and worked for Phelps Dodge Corp for many years before working as a Highway Patrolman. In 1989, he and his wife moved to Grants, NM, where he worked for Plains Electric until 2000 when he retired after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. He also had Chewan Electric and attended U&M College in Grants.
Chester married his loving wife Wannell in 1970 and together they had 2 daughters. He loved old cars, dancing, bowling, hunting and horses. They placed in 2 world championships with the Appaloosa Horse Association.
He is survived by his wife, Wannell Baker, of Grants, NM, his daughters Debie (B.C.) Wells of Washington and Phyllis (Lonnie) Bolin of Colorado, his grandchildren, Tim (Mikki) Burkholder, Chris Wells, Nathan Bolin, Shannon (Clay) Brooks and Amanda (Chris) Kemp, his siblings Chip (Sue) May, Joe (Sharon) May and Hollie (Randy) Rowan, 9 great grandchildren as well as numerous aunts, uncles nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Chester Sr. and mother Ida.
Funeral services in Arizona will be held on Friday, June 16, 2017 at 10 a.m. at McDougal’s Caldwell Funeral Chapel in Safford and interment will follow in the Sheldon Cemetery.
Services are under the direction of McDougal’s Caldwell Funeral Chapel and Gila Valley Crematory. Online condolences may be extended at www.caldwellfuneralchapel.com.
