Eileen Brunt Baker
Eileen Brunt Baker
1939 – 2022
Eileen Brunt Baker passed away peacefully on September 21, 2022 at the age of 83 surrounded by family at her residence at Covington Senior Living in Lehi, UT.
She lived a life of true integrity and faith in her Savior, Jesus Christ. Eileen was born on June 10, 1939 in Salt Lake City, Utah, oldest and adored daughter of Eugene Calvin Pond and Helen Coleman. She is the mother of 6 children. The grandmother of 39 grandkids and the great grandmother of 36 and a growing number of great grandkids. She always took time to love and appreciate them all.
She grew up in Salt Lake City, UT. She has always had a love for nature and the world around her. She would make flower dolls out of toothpicks and hollyhocks from her backyard with her sister when she was a child. She taught all of her kids to love the beautiful world that Heavenly Father created by taking them on adventures and spending time at the family cabin in Island Park Idaho.
Eileen attended Olympus High School where she was involved in Pep Club and graduated with Honors. She was accepted to BYU and received an academic scholarship. In 1958 she married Alfred William Brunt, whom she considered her best friend. Bill and Eileen were married for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City temple. The next adventure was to Washington DC where Bill went to medical school and they started their family. They continued life next in Salt Lake City then in Idaho Falls, Idaho. They brought 6 blessed children into the world to create their family on earth. The calling of “Motherhood” was the most important calling to Eileen in all the world. She considered it a great privilege and responsibility.
She was such an amazing mom! She prayed for her children daily, taught them what was right, and taught them the joys of hard work. She believed and showed them “Work will win when wishing won’t” She worked hard to make sure they had many experiences and opportunities. She believed in her children. She was positive, happy and created many good memories.
She lost her husband Bill in an accident in May 1975. A new dimension took over her life. Eileen was always faithful and turned to the Lord for comfort. She had some precious and spiritual experiences that confirmed her belief in the afterlife. From her own words of this time she said, “I have thought of Bill’s profound and memorable message to me all my life and have turned to Heavenly Father for His assistance and inspiration. I know Him and He has strengthened me in raising our family. I have tried to do my best. My children became my life. I loved them so very much. I took on added roles and responsibility of providing and protecting my children. Each child was supportive of the family and their new responsibilities. We worked and played together. Experiences ranged from the heartbreaking to the sublime. Prayers were answered and guidance felt. Sometimes I was vastly lonely.”
She successfully raised all her children by relying on her relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and listening to promptings and comfort from the Holy Ghost. All six of her kids served missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were married in the temple, and have college degrees plus lovely families of their own. She silently sacrificed and went without so that she could help her children whenever she could.
Learning something was a priority. She graduated with Steve and Kathleen from BYU in 1988. She went on to complete her Masters in Psychology from Idaho State University. She spent the next seven years working in a junior high helping kids grow and achieve their own goals. She loved attending BYU’s Education Week. It was evident in her enthusiasm, that she loved seeing things from a new perspective, sharing what she had learned, and trying new ways to enrich her family life. She never stopped studying. Even when she realized her memory was fading, she read books commenting, “It will all be restored to me someday.”
Later on in life she met Stanley K. Baker. They fell in love and were married in the St. George Temple. They had much in common and enjoyed each other’s talents. This brought even more grandchildren into her life to love. They loved working in the temple together and served three missions together. They served in the Kentucky, Louisville mission, the Church History Library and Museum Mission, and the Twelve Steps Service Mission in St. George. He was a true partner in completing her great desires to serve.
Her lifetime was full of opportunities to share her musical talents. She taught piano lessons for many years starting with neighborhood friends to teaching adults group piano at Dixie State College. She encouraged excellence by showcasing her students in recitals. She taught the children to sing by being a primary chorister for many years. She created a children’s show choir called the “Teen Tones” that traveled to Lagoon to perform on stage by her favorite roller coaster. Performing with the Choralaires in Idaho Falls, and the Southern Utah Heritage Choir brought her so much joy. She even fulfilled a dream of hers to lead a choir of music leaders in the Tabernacle during a Leaders general conference in 1970. She played the organ for her St. George ward walking over to practice several times a week. She shares that, “Music brought me great satisfaction, service, joy, and a great love for our Savior Jesus Christ and a desire to serve him.” Even though dementia stole much of her, she could still find the music. She played her piano from her heart. She sang show tunes and hymns most every day with anyone who would start up a song. She will be long remembered for her favorites of The Sound of Music.
Eileen loved to travel the world taking in their culture, music, and art. She took every opportunity to live life in the moment. She helped to create treasured memories traveling with her children, brother, and friends whenever she could. She traveled to England, Ireland, the Holy Land, Japan, and all over Europe.
One of Eileen’s favorite scriptures that impacted her life was Doctrine and Covenants 88:119. “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God:” She had this on a plaque in her home and she evidently lived this counsel her whole life.
Eileen had a long and useful life. She is loved by so many! It can be said of Eileen that she was able to render service of worth to her fellow man, she had a fine family, and she evidenced unshakeable faith in God and lived accordingly. Her influence will be felt for all time!
Eileen’s Celebration of Life will be held September 28, 2022 at 6:00 pm in the Warenski Funeral Home Chapel, 1776 North 900 East, American Fork, Utah. A viewing will be held beforehand from 5:00 to 5:50 pm. The service will also be available by zoom if you are not able to attend.
Meeting ID: 81684399210
Passcode: 4444