1939 – 2017
Dr. Brent R. ‘Doc’ Baker passed away peacefully, November 1, 2017, at the age of 78, surrounded by family. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona on March 31, 1939 to Audrey and Ted Baker.
Brent grew up in Phoenix, graduating from Camelback High School, The University of Arizona, and from Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1963. He volunteered to join the US Army and served in the Special Forces as a veterinarian with the Green Berets in Vietnam 1966 – 1967. Doc worked closely with the indigenous peoples of the area, and became a blood brother to the Montagnard of northern South Vietnam. After returning home, he settled in Cave Creek, Arizona and opened two veterinary practices: Carefree Animal Hospital in Cave Creek, and Sunnyslope (later North Mountain) Animal Hospital in Phoenix. He married Judith McDermond Baker and started their family in Cave Creek. Doc volunteered with the Cave Creek Saddle Club, the Flying Samaritans, was a founding member of the Carefree-Cave Creek Sheriff Posse, and served as Commander of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Air Posse.
Doc was a husband, brother, father, grandfather, veterinarian, pilot, artist, philosopher, musician, outdoorsman, woodworker, carpenter, mentor and great friend who always was available to help those in need.
He is survived by Mrs. Judith McDermond Baker (divorced), his children Mij Baker, Erica Baker, Michelle (Andrew) Fowler, and Brent ‘Bucky’ Baker, his four grandchildren Austin, Ethan, Benjamin, and Nathan Fowler, and his beloved labradoodle Romeo. He will be dearly missed.
Memorial services will be held at Shadow Mountain Mortuary (2350 E. Greenway Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85022) on Thursday, November 30th, 2017 at 10:30AM , followed by Military Honors at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona (23029 N Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85024). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Brent’s memory to Hospice of the Valley.
