Jesse Ray Baker Sr.

Jesse Ray Baker Sr., 80, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010, at his home in Nevada following a lengthy illness. He was born March 6, 1930, in Nevada, to James Otis Baker and Bertha Rachel Love Baker. He was born the 11th of 13 children.

Jesse had lived most of his life in Nevada. He attended Jefferson Grade School and Nevada Junior High School. At the age of 9, he helped his older brother Jim, unload train cars of coal after school. He also worked at the ice plant. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and provided for his family. He often helped his neighbors with wild rabbits and fish. He was the jack-of-all-trades, doing roofing and siding jobs, general carpenter work, and kept his own automobiles running. He worked at McKay Lumber Company for many years. He worked for one year at the Sunflower Ordnance Plant in Sunflower, Kan., five months at a dairy in Albany, Ore., and was employed at the Vernon County Block Company for 15 years. He loved to make fudge and share it with everyone. Jesse also loved to decorate his place for Halloween and Christmas.

He married Virginia B. Irwin Baker on Oct. 15, 1950, in Berryville, Ark., and she survives of the home. In addition to his wife, he is survived by their six children and spouses; Cindy B. Hough and her husband, Dave, El Dorado Springs, Mo., Jesse R. Baker Jr. and his wife, Sheila, Longview, Wash., Timmy W. Baker and his wife, Christine, Sheldon, Mo., Dennis L. Baker and his wife, Sherry, Nevada, Mo., Kendall D. Baker and his wife, Natalie, Richards, Mo., and Twila D. Morrow and her husband, Kevin, Nevada; one sister, Marjorie J. Spencer, Nevada; 16 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; nine sisters, Delores Rogers, Nellie Holzworth, Ruby Baker, Alta Baker, Helen Rimmer, Patricia Bliss, Margaret Chadd, Mildred Bullock and Bertha Nims; two brothers, James R. Baker and Jack Allen Baker Sr.; and one grandson, Eric E. Killion.

Jesse had many friends over the years and enjoyed fishing at Katy Allen Lake. He collected knives and had over 400 in his collection.

He was a member of the Pentecostal Assembly Church and he loved serving the Lord. He was loved very much and will be missed by all who knew him. He and his wife Virginia were blessed with 60 years of marriage.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Oct. 25, at the Pentecostal Assembly Church, Nevada, with the Rev. Dennis Engelbrecht and the Rev. Shelby Brandt officiating. Interment will follow in Click Cemetery, Nevada. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington, Nevada.

Memorials may be contributed to the Pentecostal Assembly in care of the church or Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

View obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com