March 20, 1929 — Nov. 1, 2008

Howard Adelbert Baker Sr., 79, of Sweet Home died Nov. 1 in his home.

He was born in Everett, Wash., to Andrew Joshua and Lousia Jane (Liddicoat) Baker.

Howard was the fourth generation of Bakers out of Alaska. The women would all come down to the “Lower 48” to have their babies, then return to Alaska. His great-grandfather and grandfather helped portage the gold miners over the Chilkoot Pass from 1898 to 1900. Their main occupation was dairyman; they owned the first dairy in Skagway, Alaska.

Howard, his mother and father lived in Auburn, Wash. His mother died when he was 3 years old; his father raised him, and took him back to Alaska when he was 10 years old. He lived first in Sitka, then Petersburg, then on to Anchorage, where he lived for 43 years. He went to Anchorage High School, played varsity basketball and graduated in 1949.

Howard married his high school sweetheart, Alice Chopp on April 2, 1950.

Howard had many jobs in Alaska, starting with working on native fishing boats in the summers. After marriage he worked out of the Teamsters hall driving truck, then he went to Clear, Alaska, and worked as a warehouseman and truck driver for RCA Satellite Radar Station for seven years. Then he worked out of the Teamsters hall in Anchorage until his forced retirement due to the finishing of the oil pipeline in May 1980.

Howard moved to Sweet Home, then Alice passed away. He met Jean (Smokey) Roper in 1985, and they were married in March 1986. They live on three acres out in the country, and Howard took classes to become a Master Gardener from OSU Extension. His greatest passion was his roses, and he taught many classes on the care and raising of them.

Howard spent 31/2 years in the military. He was a member of Sweet Home United Methodist Church and helped in many ways in his church.

He is survived by his wife, Jean Baker; his eight children, Lydia, Richard, Howard Jr., Thomas and Susan, all of Anchorage, Alaska, and Steven, Robert and Debora, all of Wasilla, Alaska; five stepchildren, Tawni of Sweet Home, John of Beavercreek, Robin of Ione, Mark of Milwaukie, and Pam of Rogue River; 15 grandchildren; 14 stepgrandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and nine stepgreat-grandchildren.

A celebration of Howard’s life will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Sweet Home United Methodist Church, 845 Sixth Ave.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Sweet Home United Methodist Church or Samaritan Evergreen Hospice in Albany.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements (www.sweethomefuneral.com).