Ed Earl Baker, 77, son of Hubert E. and Ruth (Gregory) Baker, was born Jan. 27, 1935, in Houston, Mo. He passed away Aug. 29, 2012, at his home in Houston, Mo.
Ed attended Houston Schools, graduating in 1954. He then volunteered for the draft and was in the U.S. Army for two years.
In 1959, he married Mary Shelton. They had two sons, Kerry Lee Baker and Kyle Edward Baker.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a stepfather, Joe Farley; and one son, Kerry Baker in 2007.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; one son, Kyle Baker and wife, Amy; two grandsons, Brett and Jaxon Baker of Springfield, Mo.; and one granddaughter, Jazmine Baker; and one great-grandson, Gunner Rice of Houston, Mo. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Shirley Pittman and family of Success, Mo., and Jean Catron and family of San Diego, Calif.; two brothers-in-law, Don Shelton and family of Wichita, Kan., and Roger Shelton and family of Climax Springs, Mo.
Ed worked 22 years at Ft. Leonard Wood and after retirement he started working at PWSD #3 for 20 more years.
His pastime and hobby was fox trotting horses. He, Kerry, Kyle and later Jazmine showed horses all over South Central Missouri. He was a lifetime member of the MFTHBA with a No. 9 card. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.
Ed will be remembered for his love and devotion to his family. He was a man who believed in the idea of integrity and honesty and walked daily according to this belief.
Services were 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012, at Houston First Baptist Church with Dr. Howell Burkhead and the Rev. Ed Hamilton officiating. Pallbearers were Geno Middleton, Jerry Middleton, Todd Bledsoe, Bob Lynch, Tony McNew, Lyman Pittman, Ed Goldsmith, Porter Wiseman, Scott Gettys, Don Shelton, Dewayne Goforth and Fred Walker. Burial with full military honors was in Pine Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
The family respectfully requests that donations be made to Texas County Hospice of Care, in his honor, in lieu of floral arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.evansfh.com.
