Donations to family in lieu of flowers

Catherine Jean (King) Baker of Chandler, Arizona passed into Heaven on Nov. 17th at the age of 76 of an unexpected illness. She made her home and raised her family in the Phoenix area after being born and raised in (Alpena) Michigan. She was the daughter of Eugene and Grace (Grambau) King, granddaughter of Eugene and Katherine King and George and Alma (Dramburg) Grambau all of Rogers City, Michigan.

Catherine was an Army veteran serving as a SGT in Panama and the States during the Vietnam era. She graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelors in Education and a Masters in Counseling. She taught school in Big Rapids, Michigan and worked as a counselor on the Apache Reservation in Globe, Arizona.

Catherine belonged to many organizations however was most proud of her connections with veterans groups including the DAV and American Legion. She worked as an aid to Senator Deconcini of AZ and was a member of the King of Glory church in Tempe, Arizona.

She was an avid reader, loved gardening, enjoyed music, loved all of her dogs and going to Disneyland with her family. She loved Michigan and its Great Lakes. Catherine had a zest for life and always favored humor. With a smile and her blue eyes she could capture your heart. She always made you feel included. She loved unconditionally and was selfless.

She was a stubborn, yet remarkable human and blessed by so many and so much in life. To everyone she met she was known as “Grandma”. She will be missed so deeply. “Grandma, stay out of trouble and if not have fun”!

Catherine leaves her loving family and friends, her daughter Suzanne (Baker) Facio, her grandchildren Christian Adam Baker, Summer Angel Baker, Autumn Rain (Baker) and Oliver Garcia, Lord Labyrinth Arthur Facio, Sir Timothy Gene Facio, great grandchildren Alice Klarra Shadow Baker, Elouise Catherine Garcia, Marie Blanca Garica; Her siblings Nancy (King) Collisi, sister-in-law Judy King, Sally (King) and James Accetta, Bonnie King; Her nieces and nephews Timmothy Collisi, Janet Collisi, Amy (King) and Steve Grubaugh, Jill (King) and Eric Brisbane, Connie (King) and Jamie Keyser, Angela (Accetta) and Scott Tabb, and Alec and Kris Accetta. She was preceded in death by her parents Grace (Grambau) and Eugene King, her brother-in-law Warren Collisi, her brother-in-law Douglas Mernitz and her brother Wayne King.

Poem for Catherine Jean:

The Road Not Taken BY ROBERT FROST