Jackie Ray Baker

Jackie Ray Baker, 75, of Mesquite, Texas, passed away, surrounded by his family, on July 6, 2017, after a long and courageous battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on July 10, 2017 at New Hope Funeral Home. Pastors Paul McDill and David Griffin of Community Life Church will be officiating. Visitation will be held at 3:00-5:00 PM on July 9, 2017 at New Hope Funeral Home in Sunnyvale,Texas. Jack was born in Bonham, Texas on February 6, 1942. He graduated from Bonham High School. At age 26, after being drafted, Jack proudly served our country during the Vietnam War. Jack was married to Carolyn Baker (McCann) on September 25, 1964; they were married 53 wonderful years and resided in Mesquite, Texas. Jack “LIVED” to work and worked as a transportation/logistics manager at several exhibit companies over the years and made many friends in that industry. He enjoyed fishing, working on cars, watching sports, playing dominoes, attending his grandchildren’s events, and most of all spending time with his friends and family. Jack never met a stranger and as a result has cultivated many friendships with those that have crossed his path over the years. Jack will be remembered as a “great man” and greatly admired by all who knew him.Jack was a “Godly” man and proud of that fact. He was selfless to a fault and would literally give the shirt off his back or his last dime to someone in need.There are countless examples of his giving nature, whether that be stopping to buy a neighborhood child a pair of shoe strings, cutting down a tree in his own yard because his neighbor “needed” firewood, washing his neighbor’s car at 6:00 am in the morning or dropping off donuts on the porch for his grandchildren, just because. On top of all these things, there was never a dull moment with Jack around; he always did something that made you laugh. Over the last two years, after a bone marrow transplant, Jack’s life changed and instead of doing all of the things that he loved to do he spent most of his time going to doctor’s appointments.There were times when “Jack was back” and during these times he let little stop him from doing what he wanted: washing the car, playing dominoes, going to church, or visiting those he loved.Jack’s determination and fortitude helped him fight the battle of being a transplant recipient; he never gave up and fought right up until the end.Much of Jack’s strength, peace and wisdom came from his daily prayer and readings from his bible. Jack found great solitude in the words of his Savior and set an incredible example for his family, friends, the nurses and doctors while in the hospital including them in his nightly prayer. Jack is survived by his two children, Brian Baker and his wife Carolyn and their 2 children Brilyn & Brantly. Mitzi Miller and her husband Morgan and their 2 children Jessa-Claire and Clarksyn; his 2 brothers, Earl Baker and Bill Baker; his 3 sisters Martha Dickson, Sherrill Harper, and Nancy King; many nieces and nephews and the rest of his beloved relatives, extended family and friends.