Steven Baker 1945-2024
Steven Guy Baker, 79, Montrose, Colo. died Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, at his home.
He was born May 18, 1945, in Topeka, the son of Guy Weldon “GW” and Mildred “Millie” Merl Metzger Baker. He was raised in Holton, graduating from Holton High School in 1963, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in anthropology from The University of Kansas in 1968 and a master of arts degree in American history from the University of South Carolina in 1974.
Mr. Baker began his archeological career in 1964 with the Kansas State Historical Society. He and his family moved to Montrose, Colo., in 1975 and worked in consulting archaeology after short stints as a plumber and wrangler. He formed Centuries Research, Inc. in 1977 and retired from it in 2022. He was the author of “Juan Rivera’s Colorado, 1765: The First Spaniards Among the Ute and Paiute Indians on the Trails to Teguayo.”
He was active in several community and archeological groups, including the Montrose Parks Board, the County Historic Landmarks Board, the Montrose Lions Club, the Chipeta Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society, the Montrose Historical Society and the Colorado and Utah Councils of Professional Archaeologists. He and wife Nancy were active leaders in Cub and Boy Scouts.
He married Lynn Clum in 1970 in Marrieta, Ga. They divorced. He married Nancy Ellen Hankemeier Carter in 1985. She survives.
Other survivors include his children, Christian Baker, Gypsum, Colo., Matthew Baker and wife Ivy, Choteau, Mont., Chelsey Baker-Hauck and husband Mike, Denver, Colo., and Jennifer Abbott Morris and husband Juan, Centennial, Colo.; his stepdaughters, Lisa Marie Bunch and husband Lee and Jennifer Mary Carter, all of Des Moines, Iowa; six grandchildren; his siblings, Mary Baker, Kernersville, N.C., Susan Borden, Glen Carbon, Ill., and Dan Baker and wife Debbie, Topeka; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Crippin Funeral Home Chapel in Montrose, Colo. Burial was held in Grand View Cemetery in Montrose, Colo. Memorial contributions may be made to HopeWest Hospice, sent in care of the funeral home.
