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ROBERT JOHN Robert John Baca (Bobby) was born September 8, 1938 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the second of six children born of Mauricio Baca and Estella Candelaria Baca (both deceased). Bobby died on July 18, 2011 as a result of an accident at his home in Grants Pass, Oregon. He married Gwendolyn Ellis in 1960 in Oregon and together they were parents of a son, Anthony (Tony) Baca of Sacramento, California. Bobby is survived by his son and wife, Jennifer and their two young children, Cameron and Makayla. Bobby, or Bob, as he was sometimes called, is survived by three brothers and two sisters of Albuquerque and their spouses; two aunts; numerous nieces; nephews; friends; and business associates. His brothers are Gilroy R. Baca, George A. Baca and his wife Bertha, James M. Baca and wife Alice. Sisters are Rose Y. DeBlassie and husband Robert, and Cecilia A. Butler and husband Paul. After graduating from Albuquerque High School in 1957, he served in the Air Force for four years. Bobby was an Albuquerque firefighter for many years, and in 1971 he moved to Grants Pass, Oregon where he worked for the City of Grants Pass until his retirement. Bob was later remarried to Mary Mendoza in Oregon and they enjoyed playing in the casinos. Bob was a compassionate man who unconditionally nurtured those in need to help them make a better life for themselves. Although somewhat physically handicapped, Bobby had a passion for nature and enthusiastically used his building/artistic talents to design and create a "park" on his property, replicating a small western town complete with gas station, corral, jail house, blacksmith shop, tavern, general store, and a working water mill house. Bobby fabricated an amazing antique post office/barbershop building, a mine shaft with an ore car on tracks, a small pond, and so much more. He capitalized on the use of pre-owned or obsolete materials he'd find at garage sales or old buildings being torn down. With such diligence, he named each structure after his siblings or other family members. As a child he was a visionary and was always dreaming of, and planning for, his next creative adventure. Bob enjoyed being in a classic antique car club where he drove in parades in his 1927 Oldsmobile Roadster or his Model T or Model A car. He also added to his collection, a sharp-looking 1938 Packard and a blue 1958 Chevy Impala. Bobby visited his family in Albuquerque in May, 2011 and enjoyed a fun-filled Isotopes baseball game with family, now seen as a precious gift he left them. Bobby was indeed an inspiration and a unique individual who fully used his God-given creative talents. A beautiful celebration of his life was held at Stephens Family Chapel in Grants Pass, Oregon on July 21, 2011. A Catholic Mass will be said for Bobby TODAY on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. at San Felipe de Neri Church in Old Town (offered by Anthony (Tony) Chavez). And a second Mass will be said at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church on September 25, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.(offered by Paul and Cecilia Butler). The family will have a private memorial service in the home of George and Bertha Baca.
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