BAKER, Earl Franklin

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ May 8, 2008 Earl Franklin Baker died May 3, 2008, in Wray, Colo. He was born Nov. 20, 1920, in Bradford, Iowa. Earl left Heber Nov. 2007, after a health decline to live with his family in Colorado. Earl Baker was in the Army, Navy and Marines and served his country for 23 years before retiring from active duty as a captain. He was a veteran of War World II, Korea and Vietnam. He also was a teacher, having obtained his master's degree in school administration Dec. 21, 2007, from The University of South Dakota. He served with great pride on the Heber-Overgaard School Board, resigning after 19 years in December 2007. He also served on the Arizona State Board of Education for many years. He is survived by daughter Lisa Baker, son Earl Baker II, granddaughters Rebecca and Shelby, grandson Chad, great-grandaughter Nicole, great-grandson Andrew and sister Elaine. He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Myrtle, brother Robert and sisters Marvel and Mary Alice. Services are not finalized as of yet. Memorial services will be held in Wray, Colo., followed by services in Chandler and interment in Phoenix at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. Contributions can be made in his name to the Heber-Overgaard School District. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Spellman/Schmidts of Wray, Colo., and Buelers Mortuary of Chandler.