Becca Baker

Becca Ann Baker “Nana”, 70, of Loving, New Mexico, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 14, 2025, surrounded by love.

A celebration of Becca’s life will be held Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 2:30 PM at Denton-Wood Funeral Home in Carlsbad. Interment to follow at Loving Cemetery—the town she loved and called home.

Born on December 31, 1954, in Brawley, California, to Clarence and Cathrine Light, Becca carried a joyful spark and a deep love for people from the start. She graduated from Sandia View Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1973 and went on to attend Southwest Union College in Keene, Texas. Her life’s most beautiful chapters began in Carlsbad, New Mexico, where she settled after a short stay in Temple, Texas, and where she met her soulmate, Dean Baker, on a blind date in the summer of 1981. That date quickly turned into a love story, culminating in a sweet country wedding on October 17, 1981. Just nine months later, on July 17, 1982, they welcomed their son, Justin—joining daughter Wendi, born in 1978. Becca was a rare kind of soul—the kind who never met a stranger. Her home was always open, and if you ever sat next to her on the porch swing, you probably never wanted to leave. She had a laugh that filled a room and a heart big enough to wrap around everyone she met. Whether it was her favorite color red, her nightly “Goodnight. Love you more” texts, or her classic “Kiss My Grits” sass, Becca had a way of making life brighter. She loved bells, owls, and anything that reminded her of her family. She especially adored her grandsons—Mavrick, Stetson, and Evan—and treasured every visit, hug, and “I love you” they shared. To hear the phrase “Love you to the moon and back” will always bring her memory to life in the hearts of those who knew her.

Becca leaves behind her beloved husband of 44 years, Dean Baker; her daughter, Wendi Calcote and husband, Calcote; her son, Justin Baker; and her cherished grandsons, Mavrick, Stetson, and Evan. She is also survived by her brother, Burdell Light and wife, Linda, her sweet dogs Hootie and Jules, and countless “bonus” daughters, sons, and lifelong friends who were lucky enough to call her family.

To know Becca was to be loved deeply, completely, and unforgettably.