Extracted from The Alexandria Daily Town Talk (Alexandria, LA)
Saturday, November 9, 2002

James R. Baker, Sr.

James Russell Baker, Sr. owner and Chairman of the Board of Baker Manufacturing Company, Inc. of Pineville, Louisiana, died Friday, November 8, 2002 in his residence. He was 88.

Jim Baker started out in the grocery store/appliance trade business and owning one of the first frozen food lockers plants in the country. Later, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana under the name of Best Manufacturing, he produced high pressure tanks. From Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he moved to Pineville in 1952 and began manufacturing furniture which ultimately became known as Baker Manufacturing Company. Mr. Baker also started Automated Prescription Systems, which marketed Pharmacy automation equipment.

He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Pineville, WInter Quarters Hunting and Fishing Club, where he was Chairman of the Board for many years. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Baker had served as a board member of Guaranty Bank & Trust Company, Louisiana State Board of Commerce and Industry. He had been on the board of trustees at Louisiana College and the board at Rapides General Hospital. Mr. Baker was a member of the Masons in Orange, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Parker Baker; his parents, Olive Guynes Baker and John Russell Baker; brothers, Carl Baker, Jennings Baker, Leon Baker, and Cecil Baker; and one sister, Annie Baker Swain.

He is survived by one son, James Russell Baker, Jr. of Pineville; two daughters, Diana Lynn Baker of Pineville and Sharon Baker Martin of Cordova, Tennessee; two sisters, Hilda Baker of Pineville and Lucille Baker Lemmons of Ball; and a brother, Harry Murrell Baker of Colmesneil, Texas; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 10, 2002 in the First Baptist Church of Pineville with Dr. Gary Baldwin officiating. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Ruby, under the direction of Hixson Brothers, Pineville.

Pallbearers will be Richard Swain, Frank White, Jr., Blake White, Stewart White, Russell Baker, Scott Matthews, Mike Matthews, and Taylor Yost.

Friends may call at Hixson Brothers, Pineville today from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. until noon, then at the church from 1 p.m. until time of service.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Pineville, 901 Main Street, Pineville, Louisiana, 71360 or Louisiana College, 1140 College Drive, Pineville, Louisiana, 71360.