Ashland  Daily Independent  -   

Arthur Eugene "Gene" Baker (1939-2006)

Arthur Eugene Baker, 66, of Ashland, died Saturday morning, May 6, 2006, in King?s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland.

Gene was a son of the late William Lee and Mary M. Suttles Baker. He was a past president and coach of Boyd County Little League, a former Ironville Elementary School basketball coach and a past president and treasurer of Steelworkers Union Local 7054. 

Born Dec. 1, 1939, in Grayson, Ky., he grew up and lived his boyhood days in the Lando Mining Camp Community of Delbarton, W.Va. As a 1958 graduate of Burch High School, he was a member of the 1957 AA State Championship-winning basketball team, where he learned extra effort, mental toughness and teamwork were the elements of success. He carried these attributes throughout life and taught them to those around him. After attending Marshall University, he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he advanced his technical skills as an aircraft mechanic.

In 1962, he married Carol Sue Blevins and enjoyed an enduring marriage spanning 44 years. Together they had four children and eight grandchildren. Gene retired from Kentucky Electric Steel Inc. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, boating, playing the harmonica and bluegrass music and was the family?s jack-of-all-trades. He loved his family and believed family was everything.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Gordon Baker and William David Baker.

Gene is survived by his wife, Carol Blevins Baker of Ashland; three sons, James William ?Bill? Baker and wife Nadine of Ashland, Wesley Baker and wife Melissa of Goshen, Ky., and Jeffrey Baker and wife Angela of Hershey, Pa.; a daughter, Theresa Porter and husband Steven of Ashland; two brothers, Charles Baker of Grayson and Carson Baker of Olive Hill; three sisters, Diane Elliott of Grayson, Rhoda Roark of Somerset and Pam Hensley of Madison, Ohio; and eight grandchildren, Andrew and Myriah Porter, Sarah and Heath Baker, Mikayla and Brennan, Arden and Nicole Baker.

A private memorial service will be Tuesday at Steen Funeral Home-Marshall Steen Chapel in Ashland with the Rev. Paul Cox officiating.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Brad Elliott Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Commercial Bank, Main Street, Grayson, KY 41143.

Online condolences may be sent to steenfuneralhomes.com.



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