Forrest Roy Baker

Forrest Roy Baker, age 82, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Friday, February 21, 2014, at Ransom Memorial Hospital, Ottawa, Kansas. He was born on November 8, 1931, in Moberly, Missouri, the son of Roy Lee and Violet (Briggs) Baker. Roy graduated from Jasper High School with the Class of 1949 in Jasper, Missouri entering the United States Army soon after, serving in the Korean War. He served in the 24th Infantry and later served in the Yukon Defense Force in Fairbanks, Alaska, receiving medals of two Purple Hearts, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medals, and Master Musician Medal. After stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska, his family moved to Sedalia, Missouri where he started selling life insurance. They moved around several places before moving to Humboldt, Kansas. While there, he started his crop dusting company, Baker Flying Service, Inc., in Chanute. In 1975, Roy and his family moved to Garnett where he was the Fixed Base Operator at the Garnett Airport as a flight instructor; teaching hundreds of students and accumulating over 13,000 hours of flight time. Roy married Carol Uhrman on September 11, 1954, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This union was blessed with four sons and one daughter. They later divorced. Roy was a member of the Garnett V.F.W. Post#6397, Shriner's in Kincaid, Kansas, and the Garnett Lions Club. He loved to travel with his best friend, Marguerite Ryman, spending much time in Branson, Missouri, Ireland, Scotland, Hawaii, England, and New Zealand. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Lee and Violet Baker; infant daughter, Melody Baker; five sisters, Mildred Drennen; Edna York; Eva Willard; Pearle Kellogg; and Edie Stockard. Roy is survived by his four sons, Roy Scott Baker of Richmond, Kansas; Gerry Baker of Washington; Steve Baker and wife Luanne of Ottawa, Kansas; Jeff Baker and wife Lou of Ottawa, Kansas; one sister, Shirley Flenniken of Jasper, Missouri; six grandchildren, Cheryl; Jayson; Lynn; Adrian; Allison; and Keaton; four great granddaughters, Emree; Allie; Allisha; and Reese; many nieces, nephews, and friends. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 28, 2014 at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett, Kansas. The family will greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., on Thursday evening, February 27, 2014 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner's Crippled Children's Hospital. You may send your condolences to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .