James "Jim" Howard Baker

James Howard Baker, age 73, a resident of Chillicothe, Missouri passed away at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri on Monday, April 26, 2010. He was born in Boulder, Colorado on December 15, 1936 the son of Howard and Clarice (Marsh) Baker. He moved to Columbia, Missouri in 1947 from Boulder, Colorado. He graduated high school from Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri. He then joined the United States Marine Corp. where he spent a brief time in Korea and served with the Expeditionary Force in Guatemala obtaining rank of Sergeant. After the military he attended and graduated from University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. On November 30, 2002 he married Debra Cosgrove. She survives of the home. Jim was employed by GMAC in Kansas City, Missouri as an auditor before moving to Chillicothe, Missouri in 1962. He then became partners with the late Ted Barnes in Barnes Chevrolet soon to be Barnes - Baker Motors in Chillicothe, Missouri. He soon built a GM Dealership in Trenton, Missouri in 1988. He purchased the Ford, Dodge, Chrysler, & Jeep dealership combined with GM franchise in Trenton, Missouri in 2001. In 2006 he became a partner in a Ford, Lincoln, & Mercury dealership in Creston, Iowa. In 2002 he became involved in real estate interests in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Chillicothe, Missouri where he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Administrative Council, and other committees over the years. Jim was a member of the Rotary, American Legion, Chamber of Commerce, Elks, Chillicothe Development Corporation, and served as the Vice President of the Parks Board for many years. He was on the Board of Directors of the Missouri Auto Dealer Association and a member of the National Council of Oldsmobile and Chevrolet. Jim was a member of the Iowa Auto Dealers Association, Globe & Anchor Club - Marine Association, and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Jim was an avid golfer and enjoyed sports of all kinds. He loved to travel and spend time with his grandchildren. Survivors also include one son, Andrew Baker of Birmingham, Alabama; three stepdaughters, Carrie Sampsel, Samantha Lauhoff, and Hannah Riggle all of Chillicothe, Missouri; one sister, Susan Francis of Waltham, Massachusetts; seven grandchildren, Katie, Sarah, Matthew, Michael, Elizabeth Baker, Gavin and Chase Sampsel; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Judith Barnes Baker; one son, Ted Baker; and one sister, Pat Lane. Services will be held at the United Methodist Church in Chillicothe, Missouri on Friday, April 30, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. There will be a family visitation held on Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Edgewood Cemetery, Chillicothe, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mobile Meals and\or Chillicothe Salvation Army and may be left at the funeral home or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, PO Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be left at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.