|
Jerry Leonard Baker, a resident of Santa Fe for many years, died on May 5, 2011, in Lovelace Medical Center, Albuquerque, of a brain hemorrhage. He was born in Lordsburg, New Mexico, on November 28, 1934, to Clyde and Eunice Baker, the seventh of nine children. He is survived by one brother, Mack Baker; one sister, Saramae Root; and sister-in-law, Beverly Baker. Jerry graduated from high school in Anthony, New Mexico, and attended McMurray College in Abilene, Texas, for a short time before entering the U.S. Air Force for four years, where he became fluent in the Russian language as a prerequisite for his assignment in the Air Force Intelligence Service. Upon discharge from the Air Force, Jerry attended the University of New Mexico, graduating with a degree in Economics. Over the years, he was involved in several business ventures in Santa Fe, interrupted by a two-year tour (1967-1969) with USAID in the Republic of Vietnam. This was followed by his appointment as aide to Senator Clinton P. Anderson, in Washington, D.C., where he served until Senator Anderson retired in 1973. Jerry was always an avid tennis player, and a loyal and aggressive member of the Sangre de Cristo Racquet Club. His latest and final venture was with the U.S. Peace Corps in Guatemala, where he arrived on January 3, 2011. When his health suddenly deteriorated in April, he returned home and was hospitalized. Jerry's life will be celebrated on May 24th with a memorial service at Paradise Hills United Methodist Church, 4700 Paradise Blvd NW, Albuquerque, at 10:30 a.m., and a grave-side service at the Veteran's National Cemetery in Santa Fe at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to The Salvation Army, 525 W. Alameda Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501, or 4301 Bryn Mawr Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87107, in memory of Jerry L. Baker.
|
