Gregory S. Baker, 61 of Monticello, passed away at 12:25pm Thursday, August 12, 2010 at home surrounded by his family.
Visitation will be held from 6:00pm - 8:00pm Monday, August 16, 2010 at the Mackey-Wright Funeral Home in Monticello. A celebration of life service will be held at Mackey-Wright at 11:00am Tuesday with the Reverend Sharon Monroe officiating.
Greg was born to Wilbert and Florence (Pelczar) Baker on November 8, 1948 in Monticello. He was preceded in death by his father in 1999. He married Karen Highfil on May 2, 1981 after meeting at the Piatt County Nursing Home where they both worked at the time, and she survives. He is survived by his brother, Louis Baker of Monticecllo. Also surviving are five children, Junsara (Jim) King of Countryside, IL; Phoebe (Matt Valentine) Baker of DeLand, Samantha (Eric) Krepton of Monticello, Mat (Marci) Fletcher of Farmington, IL, and John (Michelle) Fletcher of Moyock, NC. Grandchildren include Piper and Ian King (Junsara), Calli, Jack & Sam Fletcher (Mat) and Logan, Colt and Estella Fletcher (John).
Greg was born and raised in Monticello. Graduating from Monticello High School in 1966, he attended Northern Illinois University on a football scholarship and finished a Bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University. He also served in the Army Reserves. He worked as a sales representative among other occupations over the years. His passions included his family, music, hunting, fishing and motorcycles, not always in that order. He played and sang in may bands, including Bake and the Beans, Country Express, the Flatland Band, Greg Baker and the Backsliders, The Neon Neighbors, The Martini Brothers, and the Greg Baker Band being the most recent. He took yearly trips to Canada with his brother and friends while also finding free time to fish with his daughters and son in-laws. Having had a motorcycle in college, he recently purchased a Harley Davidson Road King that he took to Colorado and back in August of 2008. He was an avid outdoorsman and well known in the community.
Memorials may be made to the Piatt County Nursing Home or Urological Research Foundation (William J. Catalona, M.D., Medical Director), PO Box 855, Manchester, MO 63011.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.mackey-wrightfuneralhome.com.
