Joshua Stephen Baker

JOSHUA STEPHEN BAKER Dec. 15, 1980-Aug. 23, 2014 Joshua Baker was born in Portland, the first son and child of Steven and Pamela Baker. He left us last Saturday very unexpectedly. Joshua is survived by his parents, brothers, Brian and Gabriel and sister, Jordannah; his grandparents, Loma Baker and Charles and Francis Dix; many cousins and many more friends. Joshua graduated from Centennial High School in Gresham, where he was very active in Soccer, Wrestling and Track. He was also involved in student government and leadership. He was well respected and loved to be with his many friends whom he has maintained to this day. He attended Oregon State University for one year and then attended and graduated from Sacred Heart University with a bachelor of science degree in political science. He later began working on his master's degree program focusing on criminal justice and aspired to work with troubled youth upon completing his master's degree program. Moving back to Oregon in 2010 he worked at a variety of jobs and put his further education on hold. He desired to work and help young people who needed guidance. As a talented athlete, who following high school, loved to run and ran many road races, completing several marathon's and ultra marathon's. As a youth Joshua was a talented soccer player who played on premier club soccer teams from his early years through high school graduation. He was a competitive high school wrestler and qualified for state his senior year. He also competed on the track team through his junior year and excelled in the longer races especially the 3,000 meter race. Joshua loved hanging with his friends, but was also very adept at striking up conversation with strangers, who most likely then became his friend. He loved being outdoors and was often proud of the pictures he took in many scenic destinations and often posted them online to share the beauty he saw in nature with his friends. Josh was a very loyal Lakers fan which often created a conflict living in Portland, rooting for the Lakers, especially when they were playing the Trail Blazers! Music was also a big love for him and he often gifted his friends and family with CD's for special occasions of his favorite songs. He took great pride in "his" teams and was well acquainted with most Football, Basketball and Soccer teams. Knowing individual statistics, where they went to college and usually knew any other teams they had played for. Joshua also loved to compare knowledge with his friends, and welcomed a "healthy" debate on most any subject, and most often got the upper hand because of his sincere interest in acquiring knowledge and his competitive disposition. Friends on Facebook often got to share his insights, poems, stories and an occasional "embellished" tale he often posted, usually accompanied by a picture he had recently snapped. Joshua left everyone he encountered better following their conversation, because he gave them a piece of himself, that was filled with a sincere compassion for people and as so many people have recently expressed, he had a beautiful, tender spirit and caring soul. A service will be held at 11:00, Thursday, August 28th at the Sunnyside Little Chapel of the Chimes, 11667 SE Stevens Rd., Happy Valley, OR. There will be a public open casket viewing at 10:30 and a hosted social reception will follow the service at Happy Valley Park and a private family interment will be held following the reception. Memorial contributions may be made in Joshua's name to the DePaul Treatment Center 1320 SW Washington St. Portland, OR 97205. www.depaultreatmentcenters.org Service Information