Mary Baker
Marriages
Claude A. "Rusty" Baker
- February 1943
Burial Details
Obituaries
Steamboat Today - June 13, 2010
Mary Eliza Louisa Chivington Baker, a longtime Steamboat Springs resident, passed away June 7, 2010. Mary was born June 14, 1919, in Powder Wash, the fourth child of Lucius Hamilton “Doc” Chivington and Blanche Brazzill Chivington. Her parents were Moffat County homesteaders. Doc was a rancher and range rider, and her mother was a teacher and the first female superintendent of schools in Colorado.
Mary graduated from high school in Craig and attended college in Gunnison and Grand Junction. After graduation from Mesa College, she taught at the Fortification and Sidney schools. She met Claude A. “Rusty” Baker one summer when she was working as a cook on the Focus dude ranch and he was working on the Three Forks Ranch on Snake River. They were married in Grand Junction in February 1943. After they were married, Rusty worked at the Nichols Dairy in Steamboat. In 1944, they purchased the Valley Transfer truck line and served the local commercial and western ranching community for 44 years.
In 1969, Mary and Rusty purchased a ranch on Twentymile Road and were among the first breeders of Limousin cattle in North America. Mary was a member of the Routt County CattleWomen’s Association and served as an officer for many years.
A gardener, avid reader, accomplished seamstress and cook, and an expert cattle cutter, Mary loved nothing more than to host family and friends at holiday gatherings and family reunions.
She was a member of LRCs in Steamboat Springs and enjoyed time spent with her friends.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents and six siblings: Granville Brazzill Chivington, Emerson St. Paul Chivington, Ruth C. Jacobson, John Marion Chivington, baby Blanche Betty Chivington and Joseph H. Chivington. Her youngest sister, Florence C. Perelson, is still living.
Mary’s beloved husband, Rusty, died Feb. 13, 1988. She is survived by five children and three sons-in-law: Claudia B. Grisenti and James Grisenti, of Denver; Dr. Laura L.B. Border and William L. Border, of Boulder; Richard L. Baker, of Steamboat; Mary Frances Klein and Michael J. Klein of Vernal, Utah; and William A. Baker of Cape Town, South Africa.
She leaves behind eight grandchildren: John Claude Klein, Brycie Frances Klein, Andreatta Grisenti Geerdes, Adrienne Grisenti Havey, Alison Border Sharley, Janet Baker Ladyga, Rusty Baker and Megan Baker Rossi.
Her great-grandchildren are Ruth, Josephine and Anna Havey; Georgia and Samuel Geerdes; Kayla and Emily Rossi; Andrew Klein; Brayden and Peyton Baker; and Winston Sharley.
Mary is survived by numerous neices and nephews, two of whom, Melville and Perry Hoffman, were particularly special to her because she cared for them after the death of their parents. She is also survived by a step-grandson, W.W. Border, and his son Trey, and by a step-great-grandson, Braden Jenrich.
The conscientious, competent and kind staff at the Yampa Valley Medical Center, the Doak Walker Care Center and Hospice eased Mary’s last days.
A funeral was scheduled at 11 a.m. June 12, 2010, at Yampa Valley Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to the Routt County 4-H Scholarship Fund, at PO Box 772830, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477.
