Jerald F. Baker, M.D., 91

Jerald F. Baker, M.D., was born April 1, 1934, to Enid Howell and Basil Baker in Marian, Michigan. He passed away in his home February 6, 2026.

Jerald earned his doctorate in medicine from the University of Michigan in 1963 and completed his dermatology residency at the University of Oregon Medical School in 1971. After graduating medical school, before moving his family to Portland, Oregon, to begin a residency in dermatology, he was in general practice for 6 years in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Upon completing his dermatology residency he moved to Boise, Idaho, to practice dermatology from 1971 to 1999.

In 2000, he moved with his family to Sandpoint, Idaho, where he continued to serve Sandpoint and the surrounding area until his retirement in 2015 at the age of 80. He served four years enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, over five years in the United States Army reserves, and an additional two years serving as a lieutenant colonel of the Army Medical Corps conducting research at the Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco, California from 1976 to 1978.

Jerald married Margaret Young in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, on Dec. 17, 1955, and together they had five sons. Jerald married Christina Kurtz in Boise, Idaho, on April 27, 1989, and together they had two children.

Jerry was an avid sportsman enjoying skiing, fishing, hunting, and boating in the San Juan Islands and Lake Pend Oreille with his family. He enjoyed his daily interactions caring for his patients and enjoyed time with his close friends. 

Jerry had a particular love for, and deep connection to, the land and outdoors. Some of his happiest moments were spent hunting as a young man with his beloved stepfather, Howard Smock; bird hunting with his sons and his dogs on the hills surrounding Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, as well as bird hunting, big game hunting, and fishing in North Idaho; powder skiing with his children; extended trips living on his Bayliner in the San Juan Islands and boating the beautiful evenings on Lake Pend Oreille, days spent at his cabin on the Grand Ronde River in Troy, Oregon with family and friends, morel mushroom hunting, and caring for his 35 acre property in North Idaho.

He passed his love of horses on to his daughter, Jenny, and his love of the outdoors to all his children. Jerry also had a love of music and enjoyed many, many live concerts. He would never miss a chance to hear a band play. and loved listening to music in his home. 

Jerald was preceded in death by both parents; brother, Richard Baker; son, Roderick Baker; wife, Margaret Baker; stepfather, Howard Smock; brother-in-law, Bill Duffy; and niece, Anne Greenfield.

He is survived by his wife, Christina Baker; children of their marriage; son, Jay Baker; daughter, Jenny (Miguel) Sarabia; and grandchildren, Elton and Sabastian. He is survived by sons of his marriage to Margaret Young; son, Richard Baker; son Russell Baker; son, Randall (Rhonda Summer) Baker; and son, Rocky (Jane Klaasen) Baker; grandchildren, JJ, Russell, Joe, Seth, Kendall, Jackson and Nathan; great-grandchildren, Chase, McCoy and Natalie. He is also survived by his dear sister, Diane Duffy, and nieces Colleen and Elizabeth.