Catherine Baker Dunlap has moved to her eternal home with
Jesus. Her passing was sweet. She was ready and we all knew it was coming. She
stayed as long as she could…100 years as a favor to us. We were blessed beyond
anything we deserve by having her in our lives. She was so many things. It’s
hard to know where to start. Her love did not come with conditions. It was
shared freely.
Mom was born on the same acre she lived on her entire life. Like a time lapse
camera, she watched the changes the years brought to that beautiful Oregon
acre. She was born to Louie Baker and Clara Kerslake Baker on June 24, 1926, on
the land they homesteaded in 1920 in Aims Oregon.
Her childhood was spent doing all the things that children on farms were
required to do. She was a smart one and the one room schoolhouse in Aims saw
her race through the grades. She completed them before she was eligible to move
on to Columbia (Corbett) High School, so she became the tutor for the younger
students. In high school she made friends easily. She graduated at 17 and was
recruited by the Weather Service to work at their station at Crown Point. It
was normally a “man’s job” …but the men were all soldiers by then. She worked
the night shift. We grew up with storm stories of the Gorge. Wind meters
blowing away, following rope lines to get to the meter in the middle of the
night…the people she became lifetime friends with from those days.
At the War’s end she met the love of her life, our Dad, Frank Dunlap. He came
to visit her brother Jim who was his Navy shipmate in the Pacific. Love at
first sight was the story they told and in just a few months they were married.
They were married 68 years until Dad passed in 2015. Dad eventually joined
Mom’s brothers, our Uncles Allan and Jim Baker, on the farm and logging. Mom
was behind the scenes…sort of…handling the business’ books and money.
She also did bookkeeping for Joe Yuerger who had several businesses, including
a sawmill that was in the field across the road from Aims Community Church. Mom
convinced him to donate the lumber for the old church. She was active in Aims
Community Church and the Corbett community since childhood. She had a beautiful
soprano singing voice. She was an avid reader of history and current events.
Her memory was sharp to the end. She was a gift.
Their first two kids came along soon and life on the farm with Grandparents,
Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins was good. As time went on it was clear that
something was missing. God had a bigger family in mind, and seven more kids were
added. Life was better then. So, we are the children of Catherine and Frank.
Our family is strong - from oldest to youngest. God put us together and we
remain together. Stronger than we’ve ever been in fact.
As time passed the future of the Homestead laid heavy on Catherine’s heart.
Something legal needed to be done to preserve what family had built. Baker
Homestead LLC was established with the 14 cousins as owners. The property would
now do what it has always done best…grow trees. Growing trees that she wouldn’t
see grown. She did her best to secure our future.
Many family members left us before Catherine (aka Mom/Grandma/Aunt Katy), her
parents, Louie and Clara (who also lived to be 100) Baker, her siblings; Allan
(Ruth) Baker, Jim (Ardie) Baker, Marilou Bowman (Ralph), son-in law Glen Lohr,
nephews Doug Bowman and Jeff Lucas. And of course, our beloved Dad, Frank
Dunlap. Many extended family members carry on; foster sister, nieces, nephews
and their spouses: Carolyn (Harry), Patricia, Linda (Larry), Norma, Judi (Tom),
Marsha (Rich), Tim (Debbie), Rebecca and Clair, plus all their children and
grandchildren. Plus, the Dunlap family members scattered but primarily in
Ohio.
And of course, her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great
grandchildren. Here we go: Christine (Marvin) Thomas, Sarah (John) Gordon,
Desiree (Brad) Pheister, Lori Lohr, Saundra Ross, Marc (Kim) Dunlap, Ed Dunlap,
Ben (Lorraine) Dunlap, Tami (Paul) Moore, and extended to Christopher Lacy.
Grandchildren: Sydney (Adam), Janelle (Rob), Reuben, Rebecca (John), Rosabeth
(Ben), Michelle, Stephanie, Kylie, Nicholas (Magda), Melissa, Moorea and Cesar.
Great grands; Beatrice, Emory, Audrie (Justin), Haylee, Rialey, Charli, David,
Jason, Amelia, Everly, Braydon, Austin, and soon to arrive Emilia. Great Great
Grands; Noah & Rosie.
May she rest in the peace she so well deserves. We are currently figuring out
the logistics for the celebration of her life. We’ll let y’all know when we get
it together. Meanwhile, give her a shout out when you think about her. Tell us
a story. Share a memory. That would give us joy.