Thomas Parker Baker (you probably knew him as Tom, or if you were really lucky, Grandpa Tom) entered eternal life on May 24, 2022 in Springfield, MO. He was born in Springfield, MO on November 27 - Thanksgiving Day - 1924.  Tom's mom, Myrtle (Ramsey) Baker, was very thankful that he arrived after Thanksgiving dinner, and that his birth got her out of washing the dishes. We think his dad, Park, must have been grateful too, although we don't know if he was the one who had to fill in as dishwasher.

Tom graduated from Springfield High School, a proud member of the Class of 1941. Although he had to wait a year after his classmates enlisted in the military, Tom served in the Navy as a pharmacist mate. His military career was quite eventful, including a chance to meet and have tea with Albert Einstein. After the war, he became re-acquainted with a beautiful girl from his graduating class, Midge Brayfield, and they married on December 20, 1947. Tom and Midge lived for many years in Sedalia, MO and Branson, MO, before returning to Springfield for retirement. Together they reached the milestone of nearly 72 years of marriage. Tom earned his degree from Kansas City University School of Pharmacy (now UMKC) and was licensed as a pharmacist in 1950. He was awarded UMKC Preceptor of the Year in 1977, the UMKC Alumni Association's Outstanding Service Award in 1992, and in 2000 was honored by the State Board of Pharmacy for 50 years of service to the profession. The Sedalia Lions Club awarded him Lion of the Year in 1962, and Lions Club International named him the Melvin Jones Fellow for 1999-2000. Tom enjoyed many active years as a Mason, serving as Grand Master of the Branson Lodge, and Shrine Club, especially as a member of the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Clown Corps, entertaining parade-goers as Soapy the Clown with his puppet sidekick Suds the Duck. He loved fishing and hunting, watching horse racing and soccer, dancing with Midge, singing comedy songs, and playing with his kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, and great-great grandkids. In his lifetime, Tom taught us all valuable life lessons:  make sure every story is well-told (even for the 437th time), speak softly but sneeze as loud as you can, marinate pork ribs in Black Cherry Shasta, DON'T confuse white cornmeal with soap powder to coat fish for frying, be a gracious loser when your great-grandkids beat you at dominoes, and there can never be too much gravy! He compiled a book of family history and genealogy, including ancestors who fought in the American Revolution, and memoirs of his own rich and varied life story.

In addition to both of his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his wife "The Midgie" and one sister Emma Jean Dunham.

His spirit is carried on by his three children and their spouses: Beverly and Bill Zieres, Jan and Richard Bahner, David and Sandi Baker; six grandchildren and their spouses: Kelly and Tom Williams, Katie and Greg Lammers, Annie and Scott Barney, Christy and Tyler Tapps, Park Baker, Karlei "Re" and Andrew Baker-Dietz; eight great-grandchildren: Kaitlynn Williams, Kyla and Nathan Bailey, Henry and August Lammers, Joshua and Stella Barney, Landon and Carter Tapps; two great-great-grandchildren:  Dawson and Haven Lowe; cousin Pat Schaffitzel, sisters-in-law Portia Brayfield and Janie Brayfield; eight very special nephews and nieces, and an extended family of relations and friends too numerous to list but well beloved.

Tom's "Celebration of a Life Well Lived" will begin at 12:30 PM on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at the Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at Rivermonte, 4500 Lone Pine Ave., Springfield, MO 65804. We hope that friends and family will bring a memory to share. The family will receive friends from 11:30 AM until service time at the funeral home. Full military honors will be held at 2 PM at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, 5201 S. Southwood Rd., Springfield, MO 65804. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Online condolences can be made at www.klingnerfuneralhome.com