Editor’s note: Bucket Baker, the popular shop cat that kept watch over the happenings at John Baker Frames in Ocean Beach, passed away May 22. The Bakers buried Bucket under a pepper tree in John’s yard in Point Loma. The following story, written just days before her passing, is in memorium to Bucket. Are you longing to update your interior, but can’t quite stretch to redecorate your home or office? With a modest investment — and perhaps a little guidance from No. 1 “saleslady” and shop cat Bucket Baker and “director of security” Murf, a lovable rescued Bernese mountain dog mix — you can freshen your interior’s look by reframing your artwork or purchasing something new at John Baker Picture Frames, located at the foot of Point Loma Ave. in Ocean Beach. A framer for more than 45 years and self-confessed sucker for any animal in need of succor, Baker, who grew up in Ocean Beach and now lives in Point Loma, offers all types of custom framing and matting. He draws both locals and customers from throughout the region for his expertise in building Mission and Craftsman-style frames. Baker’s shop, just east of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, offers a full line of photo and small picture frames, as well as original oil paintings, watercolors and prints. His associate, Mary Maslanik, provides art restoration and touch-up services. Baker began as an artist, supporting himself through painting. He bought his art supplies at Aaron’s in La Jolla. “They talked me into working for them part-time and then full-time,” Baker said. Later, as founder and friend Len Aaron was set to close the store, he took over as manager. Baker’s innovations increased the store’s receipts five-fold. “I put in a lot of picture frames and art supplies. Those were selling, when the art wasn’t selling. The picture frames sold like crazy. Then, they [Aaron’s] didn’t want to close the store anymore,” Baker said. Soon, Aaron visited from Los Angeles and handed him keys to a former furniture store on Point Loma’s Midway Drive. Baker reopened it as a frame shop within two weeks, turning it into Aaron’s first million-dollar location. Over the next 11 years, he opened new shops in La Mesa, Palm Springs and Las Vegas, with Baker travelling constantly.       “It reached the point where I didn’t know where I lived. I decided to open my own store,” he recalled. Hillcrest hosted his first frame shop, followed by a larger space on Midway Drive. He relocated to his current Ocean Beach store about 13 years ago. “I moved over here because it’s quieter, slower and a much happier place to work. I really love the location, this neighborhood and the people here. It’s such a relaxed neighborhood,” Baker said. It’s also a community that’s animal-friendly, an attribute that’s important to Baker, who’s never met an animal in distress he won’t stop to help. “I like all creatures.  If I see a snail in trouble, I’ll save it,” he said. Baker has always had a shop cat at his Ocean Beach store. Bucket, a friendly tabby Norwegian Forest cat adopted through Sunset Cliffs Animal Hospital eight years ago, reigned over the frames. Until her recent decline in health — she suffered from diabetes, kidney failure and arthritis and had been given only a short time to live — she patrolled Point Loma Avenue, guiding customers into the shop and begging treats up and down the street. Now, she maintains her position as head of the public relations department from atop her favorite perch by the shop entrance, a furry leopard-spotted cat bed flanked by stuffed teddy bears. John Baker Picture Frames is located at 4735 Point Loma Ave. For more information, call (619) 223-5313, or visit www.sandiegopictureframes.com.