Jerald "Jerry" Baker, 87

Jerald LeRoy Baker, 87, was born March 6, 1937, in a home near Stennett (although he sometimes told us he was born in a manger). His parents,  LeRoy and Elizabeth Baker, raised Jerry and his sisters Joy and Ann in Elliott, where Jerry attended high school. Jerry attended Northwest Missouri State College, where he earned a degree in accounting.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1959, serving on the U.S.S. Pickaway. Following his discharge in 1962, Jerry began working for the U.S. Forest Service in southern California, where he met his future wife, Lois. Jerry and Lois were married on March 23, 1963, in Pasadena. Jerry and Lois raised two children, Leslie and David. Jerry pursued a career as a personnel manager with the U.S Forest Service and retired as Director of Personnel & Civil Rights for the Southwestern Region in 1989 with 31 years of service.
Jerry and Lois stayed in Albuquerque, N.M., and took advantage of Jerry’s early retirement. Jerry traveled to Iowa often to visit his family. Jerry and Lois spent a couple summers working at Grant Village in Yellowstone National Park. They enjoyed traveling to Alaska, at least once in a pop-up camper with their dog Rebel. Jerry greatly enjoyed salmon fishing, camping, and hosting his kids and grandkids for visits on Alaska trips. Jerry continued working with the Forest Service by becoming a bus driver for wildfire crews. One of his most memorable trips was driving a fire crew to search for pieces following the explosion of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003.
Jerry was a kind, gentle, and loving husband and father. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, LeRoy Lawrence and R. Elizabeth (Penwell) Baker; his sister, Joy Shellberg; his brother, Marlin; and his granddaughter, Jade Ashlyn Baker.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lois Esther (Wardell) Baker; son, David Baker (Jane Brown); daughter, Leslie Hansen (Richard); sister, E. Ann Myers; grandson, Adam Baker; nieces, a nephew, and numerous grand-nieces and -nephews.
The family will be holding a private service at a future date. To leave condolences, please visit FrenchFunerals.com. The family welcomes stories and photos of Jerry’s life.