Joan Vail Mecham Baker

Joan Vail Mecham Baker joined her husband, Harvey Eugene Baker, her parents, Vida Vail and Milando Mecham, her grandparents, and her seven siblings on October 21, 2014. Having lived 93 wonderful years, she is survived by her children, Bob and Linda Baker, Lonnie and Bob Bradley, Patti Boe, and 46 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her sweet, kind, funny, and loving personality will be greatly missed, but we know that she is having a joyous reunion with her husband and family on the other side. 

Joan was born in Preston, Idaho on October 17, 1921, the sixth in a family of eight children. She was always proud of her pioneer heritage. Her ancestors crossed the plains to Utah. Her great-grandfather, Thomas Sharratt Smart, founded Franklin, Idaho. Her father, Milando Smart Mecham, pioneered the construction of the first road across the deserts to California. Joan, too, was a pioneer, who blazed her own trail, living in over 30 different places in her life. Joan had an unusual talent for buying investment homes, and remodeling, redecorating, and reselling them. She moved her family from their first two bedroom home through seven additional moves to a spacious home in Palos Verdes Estates overlooking Catalina Island. Joan and Harvey came full-circle retiring in her beloved birthplace of Preston, Idaho, where she remodeled yet two more homes.

Joan graduated from Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles, California, and married Harvey Eugene Baker on December 11, 1941. They were later sealed to their three children in the Los Angeles Temple. Joan worked side-by-side with Harvey in their successful road construction company.

Joan loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and her heart was always turned to service. Her life exemplified charity. She supported her husband as Bishop in the San Pedro, California Ward. She served as a Stake Missionary, served with the Young Women, and as Ward Relief Society President. She loved to attend the temple. In Preston, she formed the Telephone Reassurance Program, a civic telephone tree to check each day on the homebound elderly. She took care of her ailing husband for twelve years before his passing in 2007.

In combination with compassion, Joan was always ready to have fun. She enjoyed bowling and golfing and any competitive activity—even Scrabble. She loved to win! She enjoyed traveling and attended the Olympics in Tokyo, Mexico City, and Los Angeles.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, October 25, at 12:00 noon at Webb Funeral Home, 1005 S. 800 E., Preston, Idaho. A viewing will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Preston Cemetery.  Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.webbmortuary.com

We express special thanks to Dr. Beckstead and the kind and caring staff at the Franklin County Medical Center Transitional Care Unit and to Linda Baker for her constant, loving care.