George Baker

George E. "Bake" Baker, 63, died unexpectedly in his sleep on February 25th. A memorial celebration will be held Tuesday, March 1, 2011, at 4:00 pm, at the Highland Park Community Church. Following, the family will host a reception at the Casper Elks. Internment will be held at a later date. He was born on March 11, 1947 in Casper to Dr. George E. and Mary Louise (Reed) Baker. He was raised in a loving home as the fourth of six siblings. As life-long Casper resident he attended Casper schools and graduated from Natrona County High School with the class of 1966. He attended Casper College. He enlisted in the Wyoming Air National Guard and served until 1973 earning the rank of Staff Sergeant. On October 19, 1968, he married Kathy DeWitt and they raised two daughters. He began working with his father-in-law Jim DeWitt at Hillcrest Spring Water in 1969. Following Jim's death in 1971 they assumed operations of the family business. Hillcrest grew into a statewide company. Bake and Kathy sold Hillcrest Spring Water in 2000. Never one to sit still, Bake experienced various opportunities in the community. These included the managing the Casper Alcova Irrigation District and working as ditch rider. His last project was developing the CY Laundromat. He was always courteous, always happy, and always a gentleman his affable personality made him many friends. Bake was involved in many community activities: Casper Kiwanis, Casper Elks, and the Casper Mountain Volunteer Fire Department. He was the past board member and president of the TBWA, a regional bottled water association. Bake loved the outdoors. A good walk with his daughters or friends while hunting arrowheads or big game was an ideal day for him. He is survived by his wife, his daughters, Anna Hahn (Carl); Miranda Baker; and granddaughter, Jenny Sue Hahn; siblings; Janet Armijo (Joe) of Bozeman, MT; Robert Baker (Janet) of Littleton, CO; and Beth Luers (Frank), Casper, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister, Julie and brother-in-law Tom Weinrich; sister, Mary Susan Duncan. Bustards Funeral Home is charge of arrangements. Memorials can be made in his name to the Casper Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or a charity of your choice.