Deborah Kristine Baker

Deborah “Debbie” Kristine Baker, 62, of Corvallis, Oregon died February 20, 2019, in Albany, Oregon.

Debbie was born in Rochester, MN January 14, 1957, and moved to Corvallis to live on the Kiger Island family farm. She was the oldest child of Richard Baker and Shirley Baker Ferguson. Younger siblings followed: Marty Van Holten, Liz Baker, and Dick Baker. She was the beloved granddaughter of Grandma Marty (Kiger) and Grandma Smouse.

A lifelong Corvallis resident, Debbie graduated from Corvallis High School in 1975 and attended Oregon State University. She was an accomplished saleswoman, working many years for the Corvallis Gazette-Times, Statesman Journal, and other publications. In recent years she ran a successful pet-sitting business. In addition, she served as a Corvallis City Councilor from 1993-1996. 

Debbie loved animals and they loved her. She provided homes for many cats, rats, rabbits, and horses throughout her life. She had a soft heart that extended far beyond her own pets to others. In her pet-sitting business, “K-9, Kitty, and Kritter Kare”, she was known for her calming presence and the times that she read books aloud to cats who were missing their “people”. In addition, she volunteered many hours for the Heartland Humane Society Thrift Shop, The Cat’s Meow.

Travel was one of Debbie’s pleasures. Riding horses on the Scottish Highlands fulfilled a lifetime dream. A voracious reader, Debbie devoured novels and non-fiction alike. Other interests included her love of movies, movie scores, debating politics and shopping at Nordstroms.

Debbie was known for her colorful personality, witty intelligence and sarcastic sense of humor. She attended two local churches and loved the Lord. She will be missed by family, devoted friends and her community at AA where she provided leadership and support. She was predeceased by her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Survivors include her siblings Marty (Ladd); Liz (Liz); and Dick (Cassie) as well as two nieces, two nephews and cousins. 

Services will be held at Corvallis Evangelical Church March 23 at 2:00 pm. Friends are invited to visit the AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home website. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either Love, INC of Benton County or Heartland Humane Society.

AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling the arrangements (www.aasum-dufour.com).

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Deborah Kristine Baker, please visit our floral store.