Jim Baker
SIKESTON - Jim D. Baker, 71, died Feb. 2, 2003, at Missouri Delta Medical Center.
Born Nov. 11, 1931, in Cape Girardeau, son of the late Bennie and Della Duncan Baker, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He served with the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the Korean War and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, for which he was a past district commander and was currently serving as quartermaster. Baker was presently serving on the City of Sikeston Traffic Committee and United Way Board of Directors and formerly served on the Kenny Rogers Children's Center Board. A member of Henry Meldrum American Legion Post 114 and Elks Lodge, he was past president of the local Communication Workers of America. He was an estimate assigner for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company before retiring.
On Dec. 29, 1951, he married Marilyn Andrews who survives of the home.
Other survivors include: two sons and one daughter-in-law, Jeff Baker of Cape Girardeau and Todd and Valerie Baker of Sikeston; one daughter and son-in-law, Sherry and Terry Fitzgerald of Sikeston; six grandsons; and one great-granddaughter, Tori Anne Fitzgerald of Mobile, Ala.
One brother and one sister preceded him in death.
Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Ponder Funeral Home.
Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bill Koch, pastor, and the Rev. Sandra Schaller, associate pastor, officiating.
Full military graveside honors will be conducted at the Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.
Pallbearers will be: his grandsons, Seth Baker, Tyler Baker, Cory Fitzgerald, Matt Fitzgerald and Garrett Baker; and his nephew, Denny Hammerstone.
Memorial contributions may be sent to:
the Sikeston Area Youth Baseball Press Box Fund VFW Men's Ballpark P.O. Box 1845 Sikeston, Mo. 63801