Longtime Williams resident, Bruce Baker, was called to be with our Lord and Savior on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 after a long battle with cancer.

He was born Bruce Leion Baker to Robert and Pansy Baker on Oct. 4, 1943 in Chehalis, Wash. He joined the family of two sisters, Marge and Beverly. He spent the next few years in Washington state and moved to northern Idaho where he attended school and graduated from Potlatch High School in 1961, where he met his future wife, Virginia. The next four years were spent serving in the U.S. Air Force where he ended up at Luke Air Force Base in the Phoenix area.

He attained his dream of being a teacher and coach in 1971 when he began teaching on the Apache Reservation at White River. The family moved to Williams in 1974 where he taught and coached at Williams High School until his retirement in 1998.

He then spent several years on the staff of the Guidance Center of Williams. His last few years of employment were spent with the Grand Canyon Railway, where he held several different positions. His favorite was that of the conductor on the train to the canyon. He especially enjoyed his time as the "Conductor of the Polar Express."

Over the years, he was active in a number of different community organizations such as the Williams Volunteer Fire Department, Williams Little League, Habitat for Humanity, and after his retirement from education, served on the Williams Unified District School Board.

The Community United Methodist Church was an important part of his life and his Church family meant the world to him.

Among his favorite things to do were golfing, fishing, camping and walking in our beautiful forests with his beloved Siberian Husky, Tasha.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Beverly. He is survived by his wife Virginia, of 46 years and two children, Ken and (Lara) Baker and Kellie and (Patton) Swartzfager. He also had three grandchildren, Jacob, Brooke and Harper who were a source of great joy to him.

He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

A Celebration of Bruce's Life will be held at the Methodist Church at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009.