GARY E. BAKER

Gary Evans Baker, born January 6,1936 passed away on December 11, 2022 at the New Madrid Living Center with his family by his side. On May 5, 1957 he married the love of his life, Wilma Crafton.

He started early in the grocery business; he was 6 years old when he began selling cold sodas and candy bars at Baker-Teroy grocery on Main Street in Portageville. He continued in the grocery business throughout his life until he retired in 1997. He worked at Baker's Bi-Rite as a butcher and in 1976 that store burned and Gary rebuilt the store in 1978 along with Jack Weddington, that was Baker's Big Star. He graduated from Portageville High School and was a Bulldog basketball player. He attended many games throughout the years and was always a Bulldog fan. He was also an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan.

Gary was a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church in Portageville and drove the church bus for many years. He was also a member of the National Guard, Kiwanis Club and Jaycees here in Portageville. He is preceded in death by his parents, Evans and Dorris Baker, in-laws Hugh and Pauline Crafton, and one daughter Debbie Baker.

Gary is survived by Wilma, his wife of 65 years and their daughters, Laurie Baker of Birmingham, AL and Terri (Dalton) Simpson of Portageville, their three children Patrick (Mallory) Morton of Poplar Bluff, MO, Emily Simpson of Tamms, IL, and Jeremy (Kaleah) Simpson of Springfield, MO. He is also survived by seven great grandchildren, Maggie, Asher, and Liberty Morton, Hunter Smith, Annalynn, Sawyer and Finn Simpson and many other family and friends.