Steven Guy Baker

Montrose archaeologist and historian, (the "legendary" Steven Guy Baker as some knew him), caught the west-bound express over the Great Divide on September the 20th, 2024. He passed away peacefully at home, as a result of a long-term battle with COPD and CHF. Steve was born in Topeka, Ks. in May of 1945 and raised and schooled in Holton, Kansas. He was the son of Guy Weldon ("GW") Baker and Mildred (Millie) Merl (Metzger) Baker, both originally of Ozawkie, Ks. He had two older sisters, Mary Elizabeth and Susan Alice, and a younger brother, Dan Brent. Although his father was an attorney and member of the bar, he primarily managed his construction company (G.W. Baker Construction) specializing in the aggregate business in northeastern Kansas. Steve's mother was a High School English teacher who later in life went into real estate. Steve's early working years were spent in rock quarries and sand pits working for his dad. He graduated from Holton High School in 1963 received a B.A. in anthropology from the University of Kansas in 1968 and an M.A. in American History from the University of South Carolina in 1974. He began his archaeological career as a teenager in 1964 with the Kansas State Historical Society and worked (mostly) steadily in that profession until his retirement.

Steve married Lynn Clum in Marrieta, Georgia in 1970 and they had two daughters, Chelsey Marie (1973) and Jennifer Abbott (1974). In 1975 Steve moved the young family from South Carolina to Montrose and began doing consulting archaeology after short stints as a flunky plumber and a wrangler in the hunting camps. Steve and Lynn divorced in 1979. He formed Centuries Research, Inc. in 1977 and retired from it in 2022. It was one of the first private archaeological firms in the nation and over the years brought many archaeologists to Montrose and took its place in the business life of the community from where it survived the west slope depression of 1982. as a very small operation. Steve was involved in a great many interesting archaeological projects, including some of the larger energy related ones in Colorado. He had something of a charmed ability to get involved in important work and his immense bibliography is testimony to them. He worked in Manitoba and New Brunswick in Canada, Georgia, South Carolina, Kansas, Washington, Arizona, Utah, and Wyoming. After moving to Colorado, he became a specialist on the western slope and Ute Indians and historical archaeology of mining communities. He wrote many articles and reports on Colorado archaeology and the highly regarded book containing the first descriptions of western Colorado (Juan Rivera's Colorado 1765...). 

In 1985 Steve married Nancy Ellen (Hankemeier) Carter of Des Moines, Iowa and they together had two sons, Christian Guy (1986) and Matthew Steven (1988). Nancy and the boys and his daughters grew up assisting in his archaeological work where the family had great times while earning and doing interesting things. Steve always believed his studies of the past were important in preserving and illuminating the cultural heritage of west-central Colorado and did much pro-bono work on its behalf. He was commonly a featured speaker to groups about the western slope and well known there and in Colorado. He was active in community affairs, serving on the Montrose Parks Board, the County Historic Landmarks Board, and Lions Club. He was an honorary life member of the Chipeta Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society where he served as both president and VP and the Montrose Historical Society. He was a charter member of the Colorado and Utah Councils of Professional Archaeologists. For many years he was a regular donor of his rare blood type and for years proudly volunteered as a bedside companion to the dying via two hospice groups. He and Nancy were active leaders in Cub and Boy Scouts. Steve was particularly proud to have been invited to join the venerable "Montrose Think Tank Bored" coffee group and was among the last of its surviving members. Steve had little tolerance for cities, intellectual or any other forms of dishonesty, politics, or those who would not accept responsibility for their actions.

Steve was an eclectic hobbyist enjoying horseback riding, canoeing, hunting, fishing, traveling, puttering in his workshop, particularly making toys, and collecting toy soldiers. Steve, along with his faithful white burro, "Caroline" was the featured character in the Montrose Centennial pageant in 1982 as the "old Storyteller." That dynamic duo routinely cut antics in parades up and down the western slope and even managed to get red lighted and pulled over by a state trooper for squirting him with a water gun on the 4th! Steve always worked hard to try to make some kind of fun or joke and, despite some rough spots, managed to have a wonderful half-century run as part of the Montrose community. Steve was a hard worker, devoted to his family and willing to take on about any job there was in order to provide.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his beloved wife of 39 years, Nancy Ellen Baker, of the home. Other survivors are children: Christian of Gypsum, Co.; and Matthew Baker (Ivy) of Choteau, Montana; Chelsey Baker-Hauck (Mike) of Denver; Jennifer Abbott Morris (Juan)of

Centennial; stepdaughters Lisa Marie Bunch (Lee) and Jennifer Mary Carter of 

Des Moines, Iowa. The Bakers have six grandchildren. Steve's siblings- Mary Baker of Kernersville, North Carolina and Susan Borden of Glen Carbon, Illinois; and Dan Baker (Debbie) of Topeka, Ks. and a number of nieces and nephews also survive. No services have yet been scheduled but Steve will be buried (in the wooden casket he had built years ago) in the Grand View Cemetery in Montrose where he will have a great view of the wonderful Uncompahgre Valley! Steve always felt his most rewarding work was in mentoring young people, including his own children, and teaching them how to shoulder responsibility and work hard with pride through his archaeological work and helping him and Nancy out on the little Baker farm at the west edge of Montrose.

 Services will be held at the Crippin Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, September 25th at 10:30AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to HopeWest Hospice in Steven’s name.