Sandra Liston Baker November 27, 1937 - August 27, 2021

On August 27, 2021, Sandra slipped peacefully away, in her sleep, to join our father who had been anxiously awaiting her arrival for almost exactly four years. She has missed her eternal companion and was excited to be reunited with him again. She forgot about what an empty hole she would leave here on earth for the rest of us. She had not been ill, so it was a real shock to find that she had left us here to fend for ourselves. She was only 83 and lived like she was much younger.

Sandra was born November 27, 1937, in Provo, Utah. She was the first of seven children born to Verdin Liston and Marie Hall Liston. She loved all of her siblings, but she especially loved to mother and take care of her younger identical-twin sisters. That is when she developed her love for sewing because she loved to make them matching clothes.

She met the love of her life, Charles Kendall Baker, on a blind date arranged by her mother, who showed him a picture of her. Kendall and Sandra were married in the Salt Lake Utah Temple, February 5, 1960. Their union was blessed by eight children whom they raised in Orem and Spanish Fork. While living in Spanish Fork, Kellie and Alan came to live with the family. Mom and Dad were devoted parents and loved us all equally. In all the years we spent with them, we never heard them fight or argue with each other. They had disagreements, as we all do, but they never raised their voices to one another. They set a perfect example of how people should love and treat each other and those around them. They taught us all how to work and be responsible. They left a legacy of perseverance, determination, and strong work ethics that we are passing down to our children and future generations.

Sandra was an avid reader and loved to learn. She was constantly increasing her knowledge and had interests in everything. Her biggest interest, though, was in her kids and the people around her. She loved everyone and did everything she could to help improve the lives of others. You could always count on her listening to you and offering valuable advice, or even just a hug. She loved to grow a garden and give produce to everyone who came to visit. She always bottled grape juice and peaches to give to her kids for Christmas. They will miss the gift of her love that went into bottling those for them.

When we were young, she and our father took classes from Doctor Christopher. With the knowledge she learned, she was able to share and benefit the lives of others. She learned to use herbs and made all kinds of tonics and ointments. As a kids, we never wanted to get sick because mom would try some “new wonderful” thing on us that she had just learned about. She knew how to cure almost anything. The best part is, we all survived! During that time is when we all learned to pick hawthorn berries. They are made into a syrup for the heart and hunting for them to pick became a big part of our family’s yearly tradition. We all love her green drink, plantain salve for cuts and bruises, and we take anti-plague when we get sick.

Our parents also learned about massage therapy. Mom had healing hands and would massage and take the pain out of whatever ailed us and those around her. Her brother, Sherril, often had back and neck pain. Many a time, mom and dad would use massage to help him feel better. Diane inherited Mom’s special touch and healing hands and is the best massage therapist you can find.

Mom’s mother, Grandma Liston, loved to quilt and our mom inherited that from her. Mom loved to make quilts and when each of her children got married, she made them a special quilt for their wedding. She also made baby quilts for each of her grandchildren. Our Aunt Valois also loved to quilt, and when her vision got bad, she passed many of her partially completed, pieced quilts and materials on to our mom. Mom started using the material to make polyester quilts for the grandkids when they graduated. You can’t buy polyester material anymore, so some of the last few quilts have been crazy color combinations, but they are loved by all of the grandchildren who received them. There are still a few grandchildren who haven’t gotten their special graduation quilt from Grandma Baker, and they are sad that they missed out. We daughters will have to see if we can find enough material to make them a special quilt from Grandma’s fabric, since she left us soooo much of it to choose from.

Sandra was kind, generous, non-judgmental and taught us all to love unconditionally. She was compassionate, and exemplified Christ-like love, care and service to others. We already miss her love, care, support and advice. Her loss is leaving a hole in many lives, but she has filled our hearts with her love. She was the central hub and peacemaker in our family and loved to share her service and love with others. We have all inherited many of our strengths from her. She was loved and will never be forgotten by those whose lives she touched.

She is survived by her children: Linda Baker; Jed (Sheila) Baker; Diane (Steve) Buirley; Neal (Heather) Baker; Reed (Valynn) Baker; Maryann Baker; Ilene (Jared) Beal; and Jeanne (AJ) Davis. Those she also considered to be her kids were: Kellie Frooninckx and Alan Shurtliff. Also surviving her are siblings: Sherril (Sherry) Liston; Elaine Ford; Larry (Madelyn) Liston; Joyce Groom; Janice (Delwin) Hemingway; and sisters-in-law: Valois (Allen) Hixon and Mira Baker; and 32 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, C. Kendall Baker; her parents, Verdin and Marie Hall Liston; her brother, Paul Liston; and her grandson, Joshua Baker.

A visitation will be held on Friday, September 17, 2021, at the Salem Canal Stake Center, 470 East Salem Canal Road, Salem, Utah 84653, from 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Salem City Cemetery.

The funeral service will be live streamed. Please return to this obituary just prior to the service on Friday, September 17th and click here.