Jerry Denny Baker, 83, son of Jessie L. and Bertha L. (Crawford) Baker, was born Feb. 7, 1933, in Upton, Mo. He passed away at University Hospital in Columbia, Mo., on Nov. 1, 2016.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruth (Johnson) Baker; and a sister, Geraldine McCubbins.
He is survived by one brother, Donald Baker and wife, Rosalie, of Bucyrus, Mo.; two sisters, Imogene Holland of Licking, Mo., and Gilberta McIntire of Ozark, Mo.; two sons, Mike Baker and wife, Luritta, of Houston, Mo., and Jerry Keith Baker and wife, Leisa, of Houston, Mo.; a daughter, Suzette Peters of Columbia, Mo.; three grandsons, Devin Baker, Brandon Baker and Zachariah Peters; five grand-daughters, Jill Edwards, Cecelia Peters, Mikayla Baker, Amy Mosley and Cassie May; four great-grandsons, Dalton Baker, Ethan Edwards, Case Steinbach and Bryson Trentham; two great-granddaughters, Kailee May and Riley Baker; and many nieces and nephews.
Jerry grew up in Upton, Mo., the son of a Baptist preacher. He was saved as a young boy. Jerry joined the Army in 1952 and was in the Korean conflict and served time in Germany. When he returned home from serving in the Army, he moved to St. Louis, Mo., where he worked as a master mechanic for International Harvester.
He met his beloved Ruth Johnson in 1956 and they married the same year. They moved to Houston, Mo., in 1966. Jerry opened his plumbing business in 1990. Many people knew Jerry for his plumbing work and his great stories he would tell. He was a Mason for 53 years.
He enjoyed spending time with his family and also enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Jerry was a very devoted father, grandfather and friend who will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him.
Visitation is 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, at Evans Funeral Home with Masonic services at 7:30 p.m. Services are 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at Evans Funeral Home with Pastor James Bradford officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in Hickory Ridge Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. Pallbearers are Keith Baker, Mike Baker, Devin Baker, Zach Peters, Jim Holland and Jeff McIntire.