Raymond Irwin Baker

Raymond Irwin Baker, age 94, accepted his promotion to his heavenly home to see his Jesus on December 28, 2010. He resided with his daughter and son-in-law, Lee and Ted Atnip, Jasper, MO., until last week where he was admitted to the Carthage Health and Rehabilitation Center. Ray was born on November 5, 1916 in Kansas City, MO. to Theodore W. Baker and Mary E. (Clemmonds) Baker. Ray married Lenora May DeHoff on August 12, 1937. To this union three children were born. After her passing in 1968, he married Jewell Deane Morgan in March of 1969. Jewell Deane passed away in February, 2003. Ray lived in the Kansas City area until he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of 39 and felt the call into the ministry. He moved his family to Clear Creek Baptist School in Pineville, KY., to improve his knowledge of the scriptures. He began his preaching in rural churches there. From there he attended Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, MO. In 1961 Ray accepted a call to pastor the Oronogo Baptist Church and moved to Webb City, MO. Later he ministered to several churches in the Kansas City area. In May of 1967 he received his doctorate degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. After his marriage to Jewell Deane, Ray became the pastor of the Olive Church near Gallatin, MO. Later they began spending their retirement winters in Harlingen, TX., where he was the campus pastor at several campgrounds there. They spent summers at Lake Viking in Northwestern MO and later at Jasper, MO., until his move to Alba in 2003. In 2007 he began living with his daughter in rural Jasper. He spent 53 years serving in his Lord’s ministry. Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Shively and husband Bob of Kansas City, MO., and Lenora (Lee) Atnip and husband Ted of Jasper, MO.; one daughter-in-law, Patricia Baker of Carmel, IN.; one sister Doris Mae Drooger of Inwood, WV.; three brothers and four sister-in-laws, Richard and Lulabelle Baker of Hardin, MO., Lawrence Ray and Cheryl Baker of Liberty, MO., Donald and Natalie Baker of Carlton, TX., and Mary Lou Baker of Richmond, MO., 12 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 11 great- great grandchildren. In addition to his parents and two wives, Ray was preceded in death by his son, Raymond I. Baker Jr., five brothers, Theodore E. Baker, Robert L. Baker, Kenneth L. Baker, and two who died in infancy, and one great granddaughter, Rebecca Shively. His eight grandsons will serve as pallbearers: Eric Shively, Andy Shively, Michael Shively, Jeff Baker, Chris Baker, Carl Ray Atnip, Brian Atnip and Marty Atnip. A Celebration of Life will be at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 2, at the Purcell Baptist Church where Ray enjoyed serving the Lord. Visitation will follow. Additional services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 3 at the Harmony Vineyard Church in Kansas City, MO. Interment will be in the Mt. Washington Cemetery, Independence, MO. Those desiring to make a memorial contribution, can make it to the building fund of the Purcell Baptist Church in care of Ulmer Funeral Home. Arrangements are under the direction of Ulmer Funeral Home, Carthage, MO.

Raymond Irwin Baker

November 5, 1916 - December 28, 2010