On June 12, 2017, Rita Mary (Struss) Baker passed away at the age of 77. She was born September 2, 1939, in Hays, Kansas. She was the second child to Harry Ernest August Struss and Lorene Mary (Mudd) Struss.

In 1950, the family moved to Eddyville, Oregon, where Rita attended school and participated in many extracurricular activities including choir and band. After high school, Rita moved to Salem, OR, and worked for the State of Oregon. She married her high school sweetheart, Donald Vernon Baker, and started a family. Eventually the family moved to Eugene, OR, and Rita worked as a clerk for Eugene Toy and Hobby.

In the late 1970s, Rita moved with her children to Juneau, AK. She worked for the State of Alaska as the secretary to the Commissioner of Health and Social Services. She took early retirement from the State and worked for Northern Marine Insurance until she returned to Oregon in 1995.

Rita spent her life caring for and spending time with her children and her grandchildren. She loved to garden, sew, do the daily cross word puzzle and was an avid reader. She loved music and played the cornet and piano; she listened to everything from Led Zeppelin to Pavarotti. She loved board games, card games and did not mind getting right down on the floor to play with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her sisters, Mary Ann Toms and Glenda Keyes (Marcus Keyes). She is also survived by her five children, Douglas Baker, Teresa Smith (Randy Smith), David Baker, Dean Baker and Karen Snyder; her grandchildren, Jennifer Steven (Jon Steven), Bryan Baker, Walter Heller, Aaron Baker, William Snyder, Rita Snyder, Gavin Baker, and Aurora Baker; step-grandsons, Michael Smith and Brian Smith; and a great-granddaughter, Alexandra Steven.

She will be missed dearly.

A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, July 2, 2017, at her daughter and son-in- law’s home at 1:00 p.m.

Dwell not in my passing but in the joyous times we shared.