Ouida June Goad Baker, LCSW, 80, Born: December 28, 1935 in Stamford, Texas Died: July 17, 2016 in Murray, Utah
Ouida has gone home to be with the Lord. The lingering effects of a stroke in April took her life. Ouida June Goad Baker spent her early childhood among family and friends in West Texas where she learned to enjoy a life of hard work, church, iced tea, and pecan pie. Dodging twisters in storm cellars, and trips to Granddad Watts for Sunday dinners were some of the highlights in the life they all loved. When a job opportunity for her Daddy developed, the Goad family moved to Provo, Utah in the 1940's where Clarence worked in the automotive parts supply business. Ouida enjoyed horseback riding, night crawler hunts and Squirt sodas while growing up in Utah. She graduated from Provo High School in 1954. She met a handsome Navy man named Tom and they married in 1955. Tom took a job in the Provo Fire Department and they soon had a son Brian in 1957 and daughter Valerie in 1959. Another daughter was born (Lisa Samone) in 1964. Tom took a job serving his country again as a fireman for the Air Force, and Ouida supported his unusual hours while helping her children grow up in an environment where they felt safe and loved. Ouida could make a dull day wonderful for her children with trips to hunt asparagus and golf balls, horseback rides, children's theatre and the pizza parlor. She loved playing tennis, listening to Patsy Cline, and Jim Reeves, and made sure the kids got chances to learn art and music. She accompanied Tom and kids hunting, and memories are etched of her even sprinting up a mountain side chasing a wounded deer. She knew how to make the family trips a delight whether camping in the family camper or sharing the warm Southern California coast line and theme parks with her dear sister Ouanda's family. She made sure by her actions, and insisting on weekly church attendance, that her man and kids knew about the God who created us all.
Along the way, Ouida would work doing many things including dental assistant, and even helping friends at their mink ranch during pelting season. Her best loved work was Christian Counseling. Ouida dedicated her life to learning and teaching God's word, serving Him in ways that will for years to come make a difference for His good in countless lives. She was a voracious reader and student. Ouida could be found up many mornings before dawn pouring over the Bible and other reference books.
When Tom retired, she set out to get her degree in Psychology from Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She gained a great sense of fulfillment helping others. Whether giving free haircuts to men in a convalescent home or starting a Bible Study with women inmates at the Utah State Prison. She looked whenever an opportunity presented, to show others God's amazing love. Ouida\s passion for sharing even found her face to face with a convicted murderer heading to a date with the executioner. Before Ouida left his cell on death row, he knew of God's love for him and how he could find hope. In the years to come, she used her education and life skills to help veterans waiting for transplants at the VA Hospital and in family counseling for dozens of families in crisis in the Salt Lake Valley.
Ouida ran the good race, and fought the good fight right up to the very end. While laying in bed wondering why God was not yet taking her, she asked in her broken, slurred speech, \"but who can I witness to here\"? 1 Corinthians 9:24: Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. One can only imagine the joy she is experiencing right now in God\s glory! We love and will miss her dearly. But oh, we so look forward to seeing her in her prime! The way she was intended to be! Until then...Philippians 1:21: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain!
She is survived by Tom her husband of 61 years, her twin sister Ouanda, brother Andy (L.A.), son Brian, daughter Valerie, daughter Lisa Samone, six grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. Preceded in death by her parents Luther Clarence and Bessie Mae Goad and sister Marietta Ostler. Special thanks to the caretakers these last 3 months from the U Medical Center and Aspen Ridge Rehabilitation Hospital. And special acknowledgement to Lisa and Tom who spent every possible moment at her side comforting and loving her through her darkest hours.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate her life at a special memorial service Friday 22 July, 11:00 a.m. at the Canyons Church, 1700 E. Fort Union Blvd. in Midvale, Utah 84047.
