Aaron Lex Baer

Aaron Lex Baer passed away November 18th, 2017 in Providence. Lex was born January 24th, 1923, the eldest son of Aaron LaVon and Sarah Hyer Baer on the family farm in Providence, Utah. Lex graduated from South Cache High School where he had to forgo many of the sports he loved in order to work on the family farm. He attended Utah Agricultural College. Lex also earned a Vocational Instructor Certificate and taught welding at the Intermountain Indian School for over 24 years. Lex built the welding program at Intermountain and served as Department head. Many students he taught often stopped by to thank him for his guidance in their vocation as well as their lives.

Lex met Peggy (Margaret Jane Thorpe) at a church dance at Willow park in Logan in 1946 and then married on March 20, 1947 in the Logan LDS Temple.

In 1952 Lex started his own welding business in a garage built from wooden ammunition boxes (still stands). He built the business into the Baer Welding Inc. that it is today, now being ran by his grandson Brian Baer. His kids and many of his grandkids and great grandkids learned the value of hard work while working there.

Lex served in the Navy during World War II in the South Pacific, including a tour in the Philippine Islands. In Sept of 2015 he was selected to go on the Utah Honor Flight to Washington D.C to see the World War II Monument. He was accompanied by his daughter Karen Hess. He has wonderful memories of this trip. While serving in the Philippines and waiting for return orders to the United States he played on a fast pitch softball team. It was there that he found out he could throw a softball with lots of speed and virtually no one could hit it. Utilizing this talent, he played on many LDS Ward teams as well as Commercial teams including Jacks Tire and Oil, Bullens, Wansgaards, C.C. Anderson to name a few. Lex pitched left handed and never wore a mit, as he would always say, “No need they aren’t going to hit it anyway.” Lex was inducted into the Utah Fastpitch Hall of Fame in 1985. He was also inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame Foundation for Distinguished Service Award in 2005.

Lex and Peggy have been avid supporters of Sports in Cache Valley. He has been a Director of the Big Blue Club at USU and he and Peggy are members of the Old Main Society. Lex has been a sponsor or member of the booster clubs at USU, Mountain Crest High School, Skyview High School, Logan High and Ridgeline High School. He was instrumental in getting the little league football program started at Mt. Crest. Lex has lived in Providence his entire life. He and Peggy have been involved in and supported the community in many capacities. Their favorite pastime has been following their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in their many activities and sports. Lex especially enjoyed watching his grand kids and great grand kids play ball on the fields in Providence which bare his name. Lex and his father Lavon built the park in Providence known as Von’s park. Many family activities and community activities have been and are being held there to this day.

Lex and Peggy enjoyed traveling and for 15 years enjoyed spending their winters in Ahwatukee, Arizona and their summers at the family cabin that Lex and family built in 1978. Many trips were also taken following Kent’s football and some of the other kids in their professions including the Rose, Citrus and Gator Bowls, (3) visits to Japan, trips to San Antonio, Texas and New Orleans, Louisiana. They also spent a couple weeks traveling back East to New York and Philadelphia.

Lex was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Throughout his life he served in a variety of callings.

Lex is survived by his 6 children (including two sets of twins born two and a half years apart). Their children include Cathy (Lee) Parker, Coy (Gary) Jensen, Kent Baer, Karen (Tim Hess), Cindy (Chad) Lindley and Collette Ryall. They are also survived by 22 grand kids and 60 great grandkids (including (5) sets of Great Grand Twins). He is also survived by two brothers, Sherwin (Barbara) Baer and Tony (Carol) Baer, one sister Cloteel Liechty.

He was preceded in death by his wife Peggy (March 26th, 2017), his parents, 3 sisters (Delva) Lyman Bodell, Ilene (Scott) Wilson, Eloise (Bob) Toolson. Also two great granddaughters, Mckenna Ann Alm and Evelyn Ruth Hess.

We would like to give special thanks to the Cache Valley Assisted Living Center (Buffy) and all the aides for the great care he has received there. Also special thanks to Access/Hospice Nurses Stephanie Murphy and Diane Crockett for his extra care.

Funeral Services will be held at Noon on Monday, November 27th 2017 in the Providence 1st Ward Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 420 W, 100 North in Providence, Utah. A viewing will be held Sunday evening, November 26th from 6 to 8 pm at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center St. in Logan, Utah and prior to the services at the church Monday from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net .