Obituary of Ronald James Baker

Ronald James "Jimmy" Baker, Jr. A Memorial Gathering for Ronald James "Jimmy" Baker, Jr. of Elsberry, MO will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Mr. Baker, 60, passed away Saturday afternoon, September 13, 2014 at his home near Elsberry. Born March 19, 1954 in Troy, MO, he was the son of Ronald James, Sr. and Grace Jeanette Summers Baker. He attended Elsberry High School. He served in the U.S. Marine Corp from January 18, 1972 until he was honorably discharged August 4, 1972, followed by service in the Marine Corp Reserves. Jimmy was united in marriage on December 16, 1972 in Troy, to Georgia Larine Traw. He worked as an auto mechanic for Baker Motors for many years, and for the past 14 years, he was employed by Auto Parts Company in Moscow Mills, MO. Playing music since the age of six, Jimmy was a guitar player in his Dad's bands, Mississippi River Boys and Baker & Company, for many years. He later joined with his brother, Sid Baker and Brian Kurfman in forming their own band, Dry Run. He recorded music in Seymour, TN. For the past seven years, his primary goal was to be an advocate for area drug courts, sponsoring several individuals. He was a charter member and former President of the 45th Judicial Circuit Court Foundation in Lincoln County. He was also a member of the American Legion Post #226 in Elsberry. He was preceded in death by his father, Ronald James Baker, Sr. in 1993; his mother and step-father, Grace Jeanette Davis in 2009 and Graydon Dee "Pigtail" Davis in 2013. Survivors include his beloved wife of 41 years, Georgia Baker of Elsberry; his brother, Sid Baker and his wife, Lydia, of Elsberry; and two sisters: Natalie Bausch and her husband, Chuck, of Troy, and Carolyn Willis and her husband, Eddie, also of Troy. He also leaves his step-mother, Mary Ellen Baker of Troy, MO; two uncles: John "Buster" Summers and his wife, Ruth Ann, of Bowling Green, MO, and Larry Baker and his wife, Judy, of Palmyra, MO; two aunts: Marie Blake of Foley, MO, and Linda Grissom and her husband, Elden of Kirksville, MO; several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. Inurnment will be in New Hope Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Family of Jimmy Baker in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.