Bridger John Baker, 48, former Ione resident, died, on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Arizona while visiting family. A graveside memorial service with Military Honors will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, July 1, 2024 at the High View Cemetery in Ione. A reception will follow at the Ione Legion Hall.

He was born November 13, 1975, at Hermiston, Oregon, the son of Robert Baker and Robin Baker-Krebs. He was raised and attended school in Ione, graduating from Ione High School in 1994. While in high school he played football and was chosen to play in the East/West Shrine football game his senior year. He also played football in Scotland and England.

Bridger worked harvest for Gregg Rietmann and Rod Taylor. After graduation in 1994, he joined the Navy and was honorably discharged in 1999. While in the Navy he served on the carrier USS AMERICA and also on the destroyer DAVID R RAY. Bridger traveled around the world three times. He also served in the National Guard for a time. Bridger retired as Lieutenant in 2019 from the Oregon Department of Corrections.

He met his wife Barbara Cody in 2005, they were married in Culver, Oregon on June 26, 2009 and remarried in Redmond, Oregon on July 1, 2018. Their marriage created a blended family consisting of Bridger's two children, Christopher and Madeline Baker and Barbara's son (adopted by Bridger) Deaven Baker, Bridger and Barbara went on to have a son, Bridger Baker and later adopted Elias Baker.

Bridger was a member of the NRA and had a lifetime membership with the Ione American Legion Post 95. He loved all things history and was very proud to have traced his family's military history to the American Revolution, he was an avid genealogist. He also loved horseback riding, spending time with family, traveling, reading, and writing. His high school English teacher Jim Raible entered him in a writing contest sponsored by Korea. He took first place.

Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Barbara Baker, his five children; Deaven Baker (Amiriya), Christopher Baker (Aspen), Madeline Baker, Bridger Baker, and Elias Baker; grandson Sawyer Baker, mother, Robin Baker-Krebs; siblings Joseph Baker (Kimberly), Corey Baker (Gina), Roseann Baker Jewett (Brian), Jeani Baker, and grandmother, Jean Harrison (Jim).

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ione American Legion Post 95, PO Box 384, Ione, OR 97843.