07/03/2026
rest in peace one of our true blue founders…
June 24, 1926 - July 2, 2026
Catherine Baker Dunlap has moved to her eternal home with Jesus. Her passing was sweet. She was ready and we all knew it was coming. She stayed as long as she could…100 years as a favor to us. We were blessed beyond anything we deserve by having her in our lives. She was so many things. It’s hard to know where to start. Her love did not come with conditions. It was shared freely.
Mom was born on the same acre she lived on her entire life. Like a time lapse camera she watched the changes the years brought to that acre. She was born to Louie Baker and Clara Kerslake Baker on June 24, 1926 on the land they homesteaded in Aims in 1920.
Her childhood was spent doing all the things that children on farms were required to do. She was a smart one and the one room school house in Aims saw her race through the grades. She completed them before she was eligible to move on to Columbia (Corbett) High School, so she became the tutor for the younger students. In high school she made friends easily. She graduated at 17 and was recruited by the Weather Service to work at their station at Crown Point. It was normally a “man’s job”…but the men were all soldiers by then. She worked the night shift. We grew up with storm stories of the Gorge. Wind meters blowing away, following rope lines to get to the meter in the middle of the night…the people she became lifetime friends with from those days.
At the War’s end she met the love of her life, our Dad, Frank Dunlap. He came to visit her brother Jim who was his Navy shipmate in the Pacific. Love at first sight was the story they told and in just a few months they were married. Dad eventually joined Mom’s brothers, our Uncles Allan and Jim, on the farm and logging. Mom was behind the scenes…sort of…handling the business’ books and money.
She also did bookkeeping for Joe Yuerger who had several businesses, including a sawmill that was in the field across the road from Aims Community Church. Mom convinced him to donate the lumber for the old church. She was active in Aims Community Church and the Corbett community since childhood. She had a beautiful soprano singing voice. She was an avid reader of history and current events. Her memory was sharp to the end. She was a gift.
Their first two kids came along soon and life on the farm with Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins was good. As time went on it was clear that something was missing. God had a bigger family in mind and seven more kids were added. Life was better then. So we are the children of Catherine and Frank. Our family is strong - from oldest to youngest. God put us together and we remain together. Stronger than we’ve ever been in fact.
Many family members left us before Catherine (aka Mom/Grandma/Aunt Katy), her parents, Louie and Clara (who also lived to be 100), her siblings; Allan (Ruth) Baker, Jim (Ardie) Baker, Marilou Bowman (Ralph), son-in law Glen Lohr, nephews Doug Bowman and Jeff Lucas. Many extended family members carry on; sister, nieces, nephews and their spouses: Carolyn (Harry), Patricia, Linda (Larry), Norma, Judi (Tom), Marsha (Rich}, Tim (Debbie), Rebecca and Clair, plus all their children and grandchildren.
And of course her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Here we go: Christine (Marvin) Thomas, Sarah (John) Gordon, Desiree (Brad) Pheister, Lori Lohr, Saundra Ross, Marc (Kim) Dunlap, Ed Dunlap, Ben (Lorraine) Dunlap, Tami (Paul) Moore, and extended to Christopher Lacy. Grandchildren: Sydney (Adam), Janelle (Rob), Reuben, Rebecca (John), Rosabeth (Ben), Michelle, Stephanie, Kylie, Nicholas, Melissa, Moorea and Cesar. Great grands; Beatrice, Emory, Owen, Audrie, Haylee, Rialey, Charli, David, Jason, Amelia, Everly, Braydon, Austin, and soon to arrive Emilia. Great Great Grands; Noah & Rosie.
May she rest in the peace she so well deserves. We are currently figuring out the logistics for the celebration of her life. We’ll let y’all know when we get it together. Meanwhile, give her a shout out when you think about her. Tell us a story. Share a memory. That would give us joy.
