Bobby Ray Baker, 89, of Galena, Missouri was born on August 29,1934 to Hamilton and Opal (Stafford) Baker, and departed this life December 12, 2023 in his home surrounded by family.
He was married to Georgia Smith on December 7, 1960 in Harrison, Arkansas. She preceded him in death on January 12, 2015.
After graduating from Galena High School in 1952, he served in the United States Navy as a telecommunications operator on the U.S.S. Hancock. He spent the majority of his service off the coasts of Hawaii and Guam.
Following his time in the service, he worked as a construction foreman in Kansas City. He often boasted about working on the tallest building in the area, which at one time was true. After moving back to the Galena area he held jobs at Sieko Steel and Paul Mueller company as a welder.
In 1973 he began his 22 year career with the Army Corps of Engineers, becoming a foreman on Table Rock Lake. He retired in 1995.
Being on the lake ,whether working or fishing, was his greatest love. He spent countless hours on the lake fishing with his buddies. If he wasn't fishing he was hunting or bee keeping. Never at a loss to find something to keep him busy, he began tending to flowers and birds later in life. There was not a bird he could not name. He spent every minute outdoors, often accompanied by his little dog, Pebbles
He is survived by three daughters, Angela (Thomas) Heydt, Sherry (Micheal) Seagar and Tonya Baker; 5 grandchildren, Jennifer, Zac, Tyler, Aubry and Sherman; and one brother, Jerry (Verva) Baker.
In addition to his wife and parents, Bobby is preceded in death by four sisters, Dorothy Baker, Maxine Tennison, Jiggs Arnold, and Peggy Harris; and three brothers, Glendan, Marion and Randy Baker.
Funeral Services were held Saturday December 16,2023 in Westrip Funeral Home Crane, Missouri. Burial was in Galena Community Cemetery Galena, Missouri.
He was married to Georgia Smith on December 7, 1960 in Harrison, Arkansas. She preceded him in death on January 12, 2015.
After graduating from Galena High School in 1952, he served in the United States Navy as a telecommunications operator on the U.S.S. Hancock. He spent the majority of his service off the coasts of Hawaii and Guam.
Following his time in the service, he worked as a construction foreman in Kansas City. He often boasted about working on the tallest building in the area, which at one time was true. After moving back to the Galena area he held jobs at Sieko Steel and Paul Mueller company as a welder.
In 1973 he began his 22 year career with the Army Corps of Engineers, becoming a foreman on Table Rock Lake. He retired in 1995.
Being on the lake ,whether working or fishing, was his greatest love. He spent countless hours on the lake fishing with his buddies. If he wasn't fishing he was hunting or bee keeping. Never at a loss to find something to keep him busy, he began tending to flowers and birds later in life. There was not a bird he could not name. He spent every minute outdoors, often accompanied by his little dog, Pebbles
He is survived by three daughters, Angela (Thomas) Heydt, Sherry (Micheal) Seagar and Tonya Baker; 5 grandchildren, Jennifer, Zac, Tyler, Aubry and Sherman; and one brother, Jerry (Verva) Baker.
In addition to his wife and parents, Bobby is preceded in death by four sisters, Dorothy Baker, Maxine Tennison, Jiggs Arnold, and Peggy Harris; and three brothers, Glendan, Marion and Randy Baker.
Funeral Services were held Saturday December 16,2023 in Westrip Funeral Home Crane, Missouri. Burial was in Galena Community Cemetery Galena, Missouri.