Donald Keith Baker 11/7/1965 – 06/02/2024

Don Baker, age 58, passed away in the morning hours of June 2, 2024, surrounded by his family. Don was born on November 7, 1965 to Wendell and Patsy Baker (Painter) of Springfield, Missouri. Don was a beloved son, brother, father, husband, son-in-law, brother-in-law, proud grandpa to five grandchildren and a great friend to many.

Don graduated from Central High School in 1984. He was the quarterback for Central High School in 1983-1984. He loved reminiscing about those days and would talk about his fellow teammates quite often and how good they all were as a team. He also played baseball for Central as well as Legion ball.

Don met his wife Darla in February 2002, where they worked at Smith Glynn Callaway. They were joined in marriage on September 24, 2005. Together they enjoyed traveling, going to concerts, horse races at Oaklawn with Don’s parents, and an occasional trip to the casino. Traveling to Cape Canaveral was also a yearly trip for the last several years. Their most enjoyment came from spending time with family and all their grandbabies.

Don had many different interests and hobbies. Don coached his girls’ basketball teams when they were in elementary school. He was a talented guitarist and wrote several songs. He played in several bands in Springfield including No Money Down, Abandoned Cadillac, and Full Circle. He always appreciated other musicians and their talents. He loved all genres of music; anything from rock and roll, country, blues and bluegrass all the way to big bands, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. He would even like to irritate Darla by turning the radio to the Hispanic music channel and act like he knew all the words. He was also very interested in NASA and SpaceX. He loved sitting on the back porch watching all the different birds and could name them all. He could spot an eagle from miles away. His other hobby was collecting guns and target practicing with his friends at the firing range. Don had a bucket list and the first on that list was to see a rocket launch. He finally got to mark that one off his list in September 2023.

Don worked at SRC for 14 years from 1987 until 2001. He began working for Mercy Hospitals and Clinics on September 11 2001 until his early retirement in December 2019. He was a hard worker and took pride in working every day of his life since he was 16 years old.

Don accepted Christ on March 24, 2024.

Don had a great sense of humor. He was always upbeat and positive, he tried to always find the good in every situation. He received the gift of this from both his mom and dad. He did not want to hear or talk about anything negative. Don was a very private person. Many friends and family did not know the journey he was walking, he kept all of this very private. Don did not want to discuss his diagnosis or his treatments unless it was good news, when scans would come back showing improvement. He walked this journey with dignity and pride, but he walked it privately. He made it look easy, when it definitely was not easy. He was small but mighty, tough as nails, and fought long and hard. His mantra through his journey was “Keep Moving Forward”, no matter what the next scan shows, what the next physician has to say, just keep moving forward.

Don is preceded in death by his brother Jeff Baker, his mother Patsy June Baker and his maternal and paternal grandparents. He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Darla Baker of Springfield, his father Wendell Baker, his brother Lendell Baker of Springfield, his daughter Megan Ramsey, her husband Evan, and granddaughter Claire of Springfield, daughter Kristin Baker, granddaughter Story June Baker, grandson Julian Cox all of Springfield. He also leaves his extended family including stepchildren Cody Adams of Springfield and Carlie Adams, grandsons Vashon and Lenox Tate from St. Louis, his father-in-law and mother-in-law Russell and Carlene Withers, brother-in-law Aaron Withers and wife Julie Withers, nephews Anderson, Easton, and Pierce Withers, niece Rebecca Apple of Chicago, all of Springfield as well as many extended family members and friends.

Don was told by two different physicians at MD Anderson and Siteman Cancer Center that they had never seen anyone do so much chemotherapy as he had and look as good as he did. He was told by those physicians that they could tell their other patients about him and he would be an inspiration and a ray of hope for others battling this horrific disease. His local oncologist told Don that he was his hero because Don would not let the cancer get him down. He would have treatment one day and be at the gym the next day. He was a true warrior and he fought this battle with all his might.

Don’s family wants to thank Dr. Rajeesh Nair, Danny Garton, NP, nurses DesiRey , Jennifer and Jamie at the Mercy Infusion Lab in Branson for taking such great care of Don and putting up with his “orneriness”. They made this whole journey tolerable for Don and he appreciated each of them so very much. They have become like family.

While we wish he were still here and hoped that he would win this battle on this side of heaven, we rest in the fact that he has won his battle and is now cancer free and walking the streets of Heaven.

Visitation will be Friday, June 7, 2024 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Greenlawn Funeral Home North with services on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at White Chapel Gardens following the service.