Sandy Ruth (Baker)Tiffin
Thomas Joseph Tiffin
Sandy was born in Haines City, Florida on July 28th, 1944 to Turner and Edith Baker. After losing her father at a young age, Sandy and her two older brothers helped to raise two younger siblings on the family farm on Baker Street. After graduating from Haines City High School, Sandy graduated from Gordon Keller School of Nursing where she was voted most talented. Upon joining the Air Force as a lieutenant, she began to fraternize with an enlisted man.
Tom was born in Sacramento to Everett and Mary Rye Tiffin on July 17, 1942. While at Myrtle Creek High School, Tom played baseball and basketball. Tom enlisted in the Air Force where he quickly began to fall in love with a lieutenant.
Tom and Sandy were married in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1967, while stationed at Warren Air Force. Their son, Micah, was born in Haines City while Tom continued his duty with the 903rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron in Vietnam. Upon his honorable discharge, Tom and Sandy drove their VW bug from Florida to Sacramento where Tom worked for the railroad during the day and attended Sacramento State at night. Tom began his teaching career at Upper Lake High School and continued at several schools in Oregon, including Molalla, Nestucca and Sandy High Schools, while coaching football, basketball, baseball and golf. He retired from the alternative school at Sandy High School and continued to tutor students well into his retirement. Sandy started her career in Tampa as an OB/GYN nurse and, once the family moved to Oregon, cared for patients at Silverton Hospital, Tillamook Adventist, and Kaiser Sunnyside, making numerous friends along the way.
Sandy’s favorite pastimes included kayaking at Trillium Lake with friends and granddaughter, Rylie, collecting dolls, attending theatrical performances, inviting friends over for holiday brunches, creating garden art with Rylie and decorating the most beautiful Christmas trees. Tom enjoyed watching West Salem Titan baseball games, playing golf at the Resort at the Mountain, cracking jokes at the Coffee Brewsters in Welches, attending Rylie’s volleyball games and placing a bet or two on NFL games.
After watching online as Rylie graduated on June 9, Sandy passed away on June 11 due to complications from cancer. Upon having a stroke in Sandy’s hospital room on June 11, Tom worked hard to re-gain his strength and to walk. A second stroke and a broken heart led to his passing on December 20.
Survivors include siblings Turner Baker (Janice), Theresa Baker, Mark Baker (Sheila), sister-in-law Jan Baker, aunt Marlene Bridges, son Micah (Lara), granddaughter Rylie, and numerous nieces and nephews. Tom and Sandy were preceded in death by their parents, Everett and Mary Tiffin, Turner and Edith Baker, brother Jon Baker, and half-brother “Buck” Tiffin.
Military honors for both Sandy and Tom will be held at Willamette National Cemetery at a date to be determined.