Haley Caoilin Baker

Haley Caoilin Baker

(2/20/2000 – 1/14/2024)

Haley Caoilin Baker, 23, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, passed away in El Paso, Texas, at the University Medical Center surrounded by family on the evening of Sunday, January 14th, 2024, of heart failure related to an early life heart transplant. She was born on February 20th, 2000, in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Haley was raised and spent most of her life in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Haley attended Jornada Elementary School, Vista Middle School, Arrowhead Park Early College, and Centennial High School. She graduated from Mayfield High School. She made the most of every day and every interaction she had. Everyone knew her well for her kindness, generosity, and her eccentric and maximalist personality. Haley didn’t live life with fear of the future; instead, sharing bright smiles and big eyes for the present. Her natural ability to be talented in everything she set out to do led her to be counted on physically and emotionally by those around her. She enjoyed theater and drama and starred in three plays in middle school. She loved being artistic and traveling, finding the beauty in people and places many would overlook. Her sense of humor was never-ending, full of satire and general goofiness. Even the most serious situations were met with jokes and never-ending giggling. As much as she joked, she was also a protector. Despite her small size, she bravely stood up for everyone around her, especially for her family and friends. She couldn’t relax in public without knowing where her younger siblings were at all times, and she would often place herself in a bully’s path. To her, standing up for what is right took no extra effort. Cats were one of her favorite things about this world. You couldn’t catch her without one printed on her shirt, pants, keychains, socks, walls, or sheets. Her favorite colors were green and purple. Green has been symbolic of growth and renewal. Purple has been symbolic of mystery and magic. That’s part of who she was. Her life symbolized healing and fantasy, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.

Haley knew this day would come and spent her days working hard for the people around her to prepare them and ensure they knew she loved them. Her family loved her with all their heart and will miss her dearly.

The family would like to thank everyone who had helped her and loved her. Please keep Haley in your thoughts when you see someone frantically running around playing Pokémon Go because you “gotta to catch ‘em all”, when you hear a love song, or someone is laughing too loud in public. When they come out with a new Trolls movie; when you smell the smell of goodwill or cinnamon (since she was allergic); when you feel like you’re scared or lonely; when you see an overweight cat, a cute animated man, a pair of crocs, or a butterfly; think of her.

She is preceded in death by her Grandmother Judith Baker and Grandfather Richard (Dick) Kleiner. She is survived by her Parents Bryan and Julie Baker of Las Cruces, New Mexico as well as her Siblings Brandon (Alexandra) Maurer of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jonathan Maurer (Trinity) of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jessica (Jose) Villegas of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Christopher Mills II of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Bryan Baker Jr. of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Samantha Baker of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Emmett Baker of Las Cruces, New Mexico, as well as her Grandfather Larry Baker of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Grandmother Sandra Kleiner of Foxboro, Wisconsin. She is also survived by her Aunts and Uncles Diana (Russell) Allen of New Mexico, Kathy (Mark) Cundiff of Texas, Laura (Jesse) Matta of New Mexico, John Symiczek of Wisconsin, Janice (James) Carter of Minnesota, Janel (Terry) Reed of Minnesota, and James Symiczek of Minnesota, Tina (Paul) Knowlton of Wisconsin, Tammy Kleiner of Wisconsin, Terry (Stacy) Kleiner of Minnesota, Tracy (Stan) Dye of Minnesota as well as numerous cousins. She leaves behind her precious cat, Munchkin, and lizard, Goob. She also leaves behind her close friend and roommate, Isis, her special friend Joseph, and many other good friends.

Services will be held on March 2nd, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2900 Elks Drive, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005 beginning at 09:15 am with a Visitation, followed by the Celebration of Life at 10:00 am. A Light snack and Memories/Photo Sharing at 11:00 am

Please wear Haley’s favorite colors: Purple and/or Green.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation in Haley's name be made to https://www.brentsplace.org/honorormemory