Margaret Elisabeth (Healton) Bakker

margaret  bakker

April 11, 1927 ~ October 16, 2024

Born in: Whittier, CA
Resided in: Lakewood, CO

Margaret Bakker passed peacefully at 7:52 pm on Wednesday, October 16th,
surrounded by her four children in her Lakewood home of 56 years.

She was born in Whittier, CA to Lura and Ivan Healton, who were both
musicians and teachers. Her Quaker parents had a profound influence on
Margaret both spiritually and musically. She learned to play the piano at an
early age and soon the violin. She graduated from Whittier College in 1948
and then in 1951, completed a music program at Earlham College in
Richmond, Indiana. There she met her first husband, R. Theodore Holland.

Their first children, Beth and David, were born in Pennsylvania and
Massachusetts and, in 1959, the young family moved to Colorado Springs
where they had their second two children, Mark and Rebecca.

In 1965, the family moved to Denver where Margaret and Ted went their
separate ways in 1967. In 1968, Margaret pursued her masters degree and
resumed her teaching career, begun years earlier in California, at Edgewater
Elementary School. She moved into the home where she lived for the
remainder of her life.

In 1969, Margaret married Jakob H. Bakker, from the Netherlands and
Indonesia, and inherited four more children which created a colorful and
diverse family. She continued her teaching career at Edgewater until her
retirement in 1989. The family enjoyed frequent gatherings in their lovely
backyard and both Margaret and Jakob were active in the Jefferson Unitarian
Church. Margaret became an accomplished autoharp player and an avid folk
singer, all the while increasing her proficiency on the violin. She eventually
earned her master violinist certificate and began playing with a Colorado/New
Mexico mariachi group, Southwest Musicians, as well as with her beloved folk
singing group, Thin Air.

These activities, as well as many family gatherings, filled her retirement years
until she lost Jakob in 2016. Mark and his two sons came to live with her in
2017, where he kept her engaged, safe and loved, along with the help of her
entire family. This included all her children, grandchildren, and many dear
friends. Margaret was always upbeat and positive no matter what life brought
her, keeping a grateful perspective, especially during her last three years
coping with physical limitations.

Margaret will always be remembered for her generous spirit, kind heart, an
interesting and adventurous life, and a brilliant musical career. We will all
miss her dearly.

Please, no gifts nor flowers.

If contributions want to be made, please donate to the following organizations in Margaret’s name:  American Friends Service Committee or either of the local PBS television channel stations.

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