
Larry Baker- devoted husband, loving father, beloved family member, coach to a great many, and cherished friend - died peacefully on October 26, 2024.
Larry was born on June 17, 1947, to David and Ila Mae (Stewart) Baker, and although he lived in other places, Galena, MO, was always home. As the oldest of nine children, young Larry led the life of a spirited country boy, developing mechanical skills by working in his dad's small engine shop and demonstrating a remarkable talent for baseball. He began playing organized baseball at age seven in Springfield while playing for the Kiwanis team after paying the $3 entry fee. He started at shortstop until the catcher got hurt, and he filled in for him. He was a catcher from then on. He became well known for his strong arm that threw out runners. As an eighth grader living in Crane, the coach pulled him up to play catcher for the high school varsity team, making him the rare five-year high school letterman.
He was saved in the sixth grade while doing laundry in the crane laundry mat. The pastor of the Crane FBC was also doing laundry and asked Larry if he wanted to know Jesus as his savior. After hearing the gospel, Larry asked Jesus to forgive his sins and save him. He was baptized soon after in the Crane FBC baptistry in the old church building downtown.
When he was seventeen, he met fifteen-year-old Darlene at Horse Creek church and asked her out because she "was good-looking, had a pretty decent shape, and was friendly." She said yes, and their first date was to McDonald's and a drive-in movie. They married near Abesville, MO, on March 9, 1968. They had three children: Jeff, Richard (Richie), and Amy.
Larry valiantly served on the Navy carrier, USS Hancock, during the Vietnam War. He was a Petty Officer Third Class and worked as a mechanic and firefighter. Larry miraculously survived a plane explosion while working as a firefighter because another firefighter rolled his unconscious body out of the burning jet fuel with a high-powered water cannon.
Larry worked various jobs including being a welder and Stone County Clerk, but what fed his passion was being a volunteer baseball coach. He focused on fundamentals and teaching his team to play aggressively. He was honored twice as Fan of the Year. In 2016, he was recognized for his forty-one years of service to the Galena community as mayor, fire chief, coach, Little League president, and was the voice of the Bears for baseball/basketball for over three decades. He especially loved the Galena Little League and was right at home in its hamburger stand with Jim Burk at the fair. One set of his pallbearers are members of his favorite Little League team.
Larry is survived by his wife, Darlene; two sons, Jeff (Kenda) of Galena and Richard (Sara) of Springfield; one daughter, Amy Gibbs (Lloyd) of Nixa; several grandchildren, Corey (Tashina) of Galena, Jake (Caleigh) of Reeds Spring, Hunter Powell (Sarah) and Zach Powell of Crane, Anna Grace (fiancé Matthew Greenwalt) and Micah of Springfield, Hunter Gibbs, U.S. Army (currently deployed), Hayden Gibbs of Nixa; several great-grandchildren, Braden, Eden, Brynlee, Archer, Raegan, Montgomery, and Kennedy; four brothers, Bruce (Becky) of Billings, Randy (Marsha) of St. Charles, Terry (Betty) of Galena, Jerry (Laura) of Galena; two sisters, Janis Rife of Crane and DeeDee Gant (Denny) of Willard; and a host of other ballplayers, friends, and family who will miss him.
He had a family reunion waiting for him as he was proceeded by his grandparents, parents; David and Ila Mae Baker; his brothers; Roland and Kevin; his in-laws; Gene and Louise Hicks; sister-in-law; Lisa Baker; and brothers-in-law; Kenny Rife, Hershal Hicks, Gary Hicks, and David Stults.
A visitation will be held for Larry Baker at 9:00 a.m. on October 31, 2024 in the First Baptist Church Crane, Missouri with funeral services to follow at 10:00 a.m. under the care of Westrip Funeral Home, Crane, MO, with Larry's children and Pastor Bruce Burk officiating. Burial will follow in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery Springfield, Missouri.
Larry was born on June 17, 1947, to David and Ila Mae (Stewart) Baker, and although he lived in other places, Galena, MO, was always home. As the oldest of nine children, young Larry led the life of a spirited country boy, developing mechanical skills by working in his dad's small engine shop and demonstrating a remarkable talent for baseball. He began playing organized baseball at age seven in Springfield while playing for the Kiwanis team after paying the $3 entry fee. He started at shortstop until the catcher got hurt, and he filled in for him. He was a catcher from then on. He became well known for his strong arm that threw out runners. As an eighth grader living in Crane, the coach pulled him up to play catcher for the high school varsity team, making him the rare five-year high school letterman.
He was saved in the sixth grade while doing laundry in the crane laundry mat. The pastor of the Crane FBC was also doing laundry and asked Larry if he wanted to know Jesus as his savior. After hearing the gospel, Larry asked Jesus to forgive his sins and save him. He was baptized soon after in the Crane FBC baptistry in the old church building downtown.
When he was seventeen, he met fifteen-year-old Darlene at Horse Creek church and asked her out because she "was good-looking, had a pretty decent shape, and was friendly." She said yes, and their first date was to McDonald's and a drive-in movie. They married near Abesville, MO, on March 9, 1968. They had three children: Jeff, Richard (Richie), and Amy.
Larry valiantly served on the Navy carrier, USS Hancock, during the Vietnam War. He was a Petty Officer Third Class and worked as a mechanic and firefighter. Larry miraculously survived a plane explosion while working as a firefighter because another firefighter rolled his unconscious body out of the burning jet fuel with a high-powered water cannon.
Larry worked various jobs including being a welder and Stone County Clerk, but what fed his passion was being a volunteer baseball coach. He focused on fundamentals and teaching his team to play aggressively. He was honored twice as Fan of the Year. In 2016, he was recognized for his forty-one years of service to the Galena community as mayor, fire chief, coach, Little League president, and was the voice of the Bears for baseball/basketball for over three decades. He especially loved the Galena Little League and was right at home in its hamburger stand with Jim Burk at the fair. One set of his pallbearers are members of his favorite Little League team.
Larry is survived by his wife, Darlene; two sons, Jeff (Kenda) of Galena and Richard (Sara) of Springfield; one daughter, Amy Gibbs (Lloyd) of Nixa; several grandchildren, Corey (Tashina) of Galena, Jake (Caleigh) of Reeds Spring, Hunter Powell (Sarah) and Zach Powell of Crane, Anna Grace (fiancé Matthew Greenwalt) and Micah of Springfield, Hunter Gibbs, U.S. Army (currently deployed), Hayden Gibbs of Nixa; several great-grandchildren, Braden, Eden, Brynlee, Archer, Raegan, Montgomery, and Kennedy; four brothers, Bruce (Becky) of Billings, Randy (Marsha) of St. Charles, Terry (Betty) of Galena, Jerry (Laura) of Galena; two sisters, Janis Rife of Crane and DeeDee Gant (Denny) of Willard; and a host of other ballplayers, friends, and family who will miss him.
He had a family reunion waiting for him as he was proceeded by his grandparents, parents; David and Ila Mae Baker; his brothers; Roland and Kevin; his in-laws; Gene and Louise Hicks; sister-in-law; Lisa Baker; and brothers-in-law; Kenny Rife, Hershal Hicks, Gary Hicks, and David Stults.
A visitation will be held for Larry Baker at 9:00 a.m. on October 31, 2024 in the First Baptist Church Crane, Missouri with funeral services to follow at 10:00 a.m. under the care of Westrip Funeral Home, Crane, MO, with Larry's children and Pastor Bruce Burk officiating. Burial will follow in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery Springfield, Missouri.