John S. Baker

March 5, 1929 - September 5, 2017

John Shepard Baker, 88, of Fort Scott, died early Tuesday morning, September 5, 2017 at Guest Home Estates. He was born March 5, 1929 in Henrietta, Oklahoma, the son of Isaac Lee and Mary Ann (Hook) Baker. He married Norma Louise Betty Long April 29, 1950, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. She preceded him in death April 9, 2007.

 

John graduated from Fort Scott Community College, and worked for the Frisco Railroad for several years. He also served as Probate Judge for Bourbon County, and Mayor of Fort Scott. He retired from The Western Insurance Company as a Supervisor. John was a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church, the Rising Sun Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, and also Mirza Shrine. He was an avid fisherman and had belonged to the Fort Scott Bass Club.

 

Survivors include his children, Patricia Wheeler and husband Richard, of Fort Scott, Cynthia Stewart, of Cherokee, Kansas, and Brian Baker and wife Rachel, of Iola, Kansas; seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife, Norma, John was also preceded in death by his parents, a son, Steve Baker; seven brothers, Albert, Bethel, Charles Lester, Paul, Winfree, infant Walter Wesley; and two sisters, Launa Twist and Florence Pelican.

 

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 7, 2017 at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home with burial following at the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the services on Thursday beginning at 10:00 a.m. until service time. Memorial contributions may be made to either Mercy Hospice, or Shriners Transportation Fund and left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, PO Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.