Howard E. Baxter, age 71, passed away on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at the Regional Hospital in Tukwila, Washington.
He was born February 1, 1937 in Rothbury, Michigan to Lawrence and Martha Crawford Baxter.
Howard has been a resident of Sedro-Woolley since 1958, residing here with his wife Aurelia whom he married on December 19, 1958 in Clear Lake, Washington while serving in the U.S. Navy for 20 years.
After his retirement, he worked for Avon Body Shop for 14 years as an auto body mechanic, retiring in 2004.
He enjoyed wood working, smoking his own meats, especially jerky, prospecting and panning for gold, hunting, fishing, building muzzle loaders and working on his 3-wheel motorcycle. Howard was a Deacon and member of Valley Baptist Church in Sedro-Woolley.
Howard is survived by his wife, Aurelia at the family home in Sedro-Woolley. His children, Ranae Frisbee and her husband, Tom, Trina Chamberlain and her husband Dave and Clinton Baxter and his wife, Julie all of Sedro-Woolley.
Ten grandchildren, Kaley, Kim and her husband Chris, Brent, Crystal, Maggie, Jeff, Tracy, Danni, Nikki and her husband Nick and Jessica, and a great-grand-daughter, Haedyn. Three sisters, Charlotte, Pauline and Emeline and a brother, Robert. Two half-brothers, Larry and Clyde and two half-sisters, Priscilla and Joyce. Numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother, Nellie and a brother, Everett.
A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 2:00PM at the Valley Baptist Church on John Liner Road in Sedro-Woolley with Pastor Michael Smith officiating. Inurnment with military honors will follow at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.