James Ellis "Jim" Baker, formerly of Plattsburgh, passed away peacefully at Glens Falls Hospital on June 13, 2022, with his son, Jim, and fiancée, Jean Vilers, by his side. He was 79.
The son of the late Luther and Maxine Baker, Jim was born in St. Louis, MO., but grew up in nearby Blackwell. Following graduation for high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After serving in Japan and Guam, he returned stateside during the Cuban Missile Crisis where his duties were highlighted by a tour guarding the Atlas F missile silo in Alburgh, VT. It was during this period that he developed a life-long love for the Adirondacks. He became an avid sportsman who enjoyed everything to do with the great outdoors, but especially hunting, fishing, trapping, boating, and 4-wheeling. Jim joined and became a member of the Plattsburgh Rod & Gun Club for many years. He shot skeet competitively and taught the DEC Hunter Safety Training Program to many students over that span in partnership with his long-time friend, the late Don Campagna. He was a member of the Moosehead Mountain Hunting Club since 1974 and never missed an opening day club meeting for 45 consecutive years. He cherished a life-long friendship with fellow hunting club member John Krajewski of Plattsburgh, and the two cultivated and enjoyed recalling an abundance of humorous and memorable experiences. Until recently, Jim was active in the Amateur Ham Radio operators' organization in which he held a general operator's license with the call sign KA2PEJ.
Jim Baker compiled a 33-year career with the City of Plattsburgh's Municipal Lighting Department, IBEW 1249. He held many union positions throughout his tenure including recording secretary, negotiating team member, vice president and president. He rose through the employee ranks from line helper to the top position of line supervisor, a post he held at the time of his retirement in 2002.
In the years following retirement, Jim, accompanied by Jean, enjoyed camping trips throughout the Northeast, with special fondness for the state of Maine. Their travels occasionally included stops at casinos, with Turning Stone in central New York, and Mohican Sun in Connecticut, among their favorites. In a teasing frame of mind following these excursions, Jim would sometimes call his son in Plattsburgh to report, unconvincingly, that some bad luck at the blackjack tables had put a dent in the latter's inheritance. Similarly, he loved to gently tease his grandchildren, giving what he termed "fuzzy sugar" to his granddaughter, Juliana, and "big hugs" to his grandson, Joshua.
Besides his parents, Jim was predeceased by his step-sister Patricia Gains Schmidt. He is survived by his son, James A. Baker and his spouse, Carrie, his grandchildren Juliana Marie and Joshua James, a brother Douglas W. Baker and his wife, Marie and their children, and his fiancée Jean Vilers and her daughter Arlene Walch and son-in-law Jason, and grandchildren Jonathan, Collin, and Ryan. Survivors also include many cousins.
At Jim's request, there will be no calling hours or funeral service. He will be recognized in a full military honors ceremony at a later date and interred at the Saratoga National Cemetery.
In a parting tribute, his son Jim asked everyone who knew his father to remember "Big Jim" by one of his final sentiments. That is, he looked back on his life saying: "You know, I've had a pretty good run."
We truly loved you Dad; you will be missed.
The son of the late Luther and Maxine Baker, Jim was born in St. Louis, MO., but grew up in nearby Blackwell. Following graduation for high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After serving in Japan and Guam, he returned stateside during the Cuban Missile Crisis where his duties were highlighted by a tour guarding the Atlas F missile silo in Alburgh, VT. It was during this period that he developed a life-long love for the Adirondacks. He became an avid sportsman who enjoyed everything to do with the great outdoors, but especially hunting, fishing, trapping, boating, and 4-wheeling. Jim joined and became a member of the Plattsburgh Rod & Gun Club for many years. He shot skeet competitively and taught the DEC Hunter Safety Training Program to many students over that span in partnership with his long-time friend, the late Don Campagna. He was a member of the Moosehead Mountain Hunting Club since 1974 and never missed an opening day club meeting for 45 consecutive years. He cherished a life-long friendship with fellow hunting club member John Krajewski of Plattsburgh, and the two cultivated and enjoyed recalling an abundance of humorous and memorable experiences. Until recently, Jim was active in the Amateur Ham Radio operators' organization in which he held a general operator's license with the call sign KA2PEJ.
Jim Baker compiled a 33-year career with the City of Plattsburgh's Municipal Lighting Department, IBEW 1249. He held many union positions throughout his tenure including recording secretary, negotiating team member, vice president and president. He rose through the employee ranks from line helper to the top position of line supervisor, a post he held at the time of his retirement in 2002.
In the years following retirement, Jim, accompanied by Jean, enjoyed camping trips throughout the Northeast, with special fondness for the state of Maine. Their travels occasionally included stops at casinos, with Turning Stone in central New York, and Mohican Sun in Connecticut, among their favorites. In a teasing frame of mind following these excursions, Jim would sometimes call his son in Plattsburgh to report, unconvincingly, that some bad luck at the blackjack tables had put a dent in the latter's inheritance. Similarly, he loved to gently tease his grandchildren, giving what he termed "fuzzy sugar" to his granddaughter, Juliana, and "big hugs" to his grandson, Joshua.
Besides his parents, Jim was predeceased by his step-sister Patricia Gains Schmidt. He is survived by his son, James A. Baker and his spouse, Carrie, his grandchildren Juliana Marie and Joshua James, a brother Douglas W. Baker and his wife, Marie and their children, and his fiancée Jean Vilers and her daughter Arlene Walch and son-in-law Jason, and grandchildren Jonathan, Collin, and Ryan. Survivors also include many cousins.
At Jim's request, there will be no calling hours or funeral service. He will be recognized in a full military honors ceremony at a later date and interred at the Saratoga National Cemetery.
In a parting tribute, his son Jim asked everyone who knew his father to remember "Big Jim" by one of his final sentiments. That is, he looked back on his life saying: "You know, I've had a pretty good run."
We truly loved you Dad; you will be missed.
James Ellis "Jim" Baker, formerly of Plattsburgh, passed away peacefully at Glens Falls Hospital on June 13, 2022, with his son, Jim, and fiancée, Jean Vilers, by his side. He was 79.
The son of the late Luther and Maxine Baker, Jim was born in St. Louis, MO., but grew up in nearby Blackwell. Following graduation for high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After serving in Japan and Guam, he returned stateside during the Cuban Missile Crisis where his duties were highlighted by a tour guarding the Atlas F missile silo in Alburgh, VT. It was during this period that he developed a life-long love for the Adirondacks. He became an avid sportsman who enjoyed everything to do with the great outdoors, but especially hunting, fishing, trapping, boating, and 4-wheeling. Jim joined and became a member of the Plattsburgh Rod & Gun Club for many years. He shot skeet competitively and taught the DEC Hunter Safety Training Program to many students over that span in partnership with his long-time friend, the late Don Campagna. He was a member of the Moosehead Mountain Hunting Club since 1974 and never missed an opening day club meeting for 45 consecutive years. He cherished a life-long friendship with fellow hunting club member John Krajewski of Plattsburgh, and the two cultivated and enjoyed recalling an abundance of humorous and memorable experiences. Until recently, Jim was active in the Amateur Ham Radio operators' organization in which he held a general operator's license with the call sign KA2PEJ.
Jim Baker compiled a 33-year career with the City of Plattsburgh's Municipal Lighting Department, IBEW 1249. He held many union positions throughout his tenure including recording secretary, negotiating team member, vice president and president. He rose through the employee ranks from line helper to the top position of line supervisor, a post he held at the time of his retirement in 2002.
In the years following retirement, Jim, accompanied by Jean, enjoyed camping trips throughout the Northeast, with special fondness for the state of Maine. Their travels occasionally included stops at casinos, with Turning Stone in central New York, and Mohican Sun in Connecticut, among their favorites. In a teasing frame of mind following these excursions, Jim would sometimes call his son in Plattsburgh to report, unconvincingly, that some bad luck at the blackjack tables had put a dent in the latter's inheritance. Similarly, he loved to gently tease his grandchildren, giving what he termed "fuzzy sugar" to his granddaughter, Juliana, and "big hugs" to his grandson, Joshua.
Besides his parents, Jim was predeceased by his step-sister Patricia Gains Schmidt. He is survived by his son, James A. Baker and his spouse, Carrie, his grandchildren Juliana Marie and Joshua James, a brother Douglas W. Baker and his wife, Marie and their children, and his fiancée Jean Vilers and her daughter Arlene Walch and son-in-law Jason, and grandchildren Jonathan, Collin, and Ryan. Survivors also include many cousins.
At Jim's request, there will be no calling hours or funeral service. He will be recognized in a full military honors ceremony at a later date and interred at the Saratoga National Cemetery.
In a parting tribute, his son Jim asked everyone who knew his father to remember "Big Jim" by one of his final sentiments. That is, he looked back on his life saying: "You know, I've had a pretty good run."
We truly loved you Dad; you will be missed.
The son of the late Luther and Maxine Baker, Jim was born in St. Louis, MO., but grew up in nearby Blackwell. Following graduation for high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After serving in Japan and Guam, he returned stateside during the Cuban Missile Crisis where his duties were highlighted by a tour guarding the Atlas F missile silo in Alburgh, VT. It was during this period that he developed a life-long love for the Adirondacks. He became an avid sportsman who enjoyed everything to do with the great outdoors, but especially hunting, fishing, trapping, boating, and 4-wheeling. Jim joined and became a member of the Plattsburgh Rod & Gun Club for many years. He shot skeet competitively and taught the DEC Hunter Safety Training Program to many students over that span in partnership with his long-time friend, the late Don Campagna. He was a member of the Moosehead Mountain Hunting Club since 1974 and never missed an opening day club meeting for 45 consecutive years. He cherished a life-long friendship with fellow hunting club member John Krajewski of Plattsburgh, and the two cultivated and enjoyed recalling an abundance of humorous and memorable experiences. Until recently, Jim was active in the Amateur Ham Radio operators' organization in which he held a general operator's license with the call sign KA2PEJ.
Jim Baker compiled a 33-year career with the City of Plattsburgh's Municipal Lighting Department, IBEW 1249. He held many union positions throughout his tenure including recording secretary, negotiating team member, vice president and president. He rose through the employee ranks from line helper to the top position of line supervisor, a post he held at the time of his retirement in 2002.
In the years following retirement, Jim, accompanied by Jean, enjoyed camping trips throughout the Northeast, with special fondness for the state of Maine. Their travels occasionally included stops at casinos, with Turning Stone in central New York, and Mohican Sun in Connecticut, among their favorites. In a teasing frame of mind following these excursions, Jim would sometimes call his son in Plattsburgh to report, unconvincingly, that some bad luck at the blackjack tables had put a dent in the latter's inheritance. Similarly, he loved to gently tease his grandchildren, giving what he termed "fuzzy sugar" to his granddaughter, Juliana, and "big hugs" to his grandson, Joshua.
Besides his parents, Jim was predeceased by his step-sister Patricia Gains Schmidt. He is survived by his son, James A. Baker and his spouse, Carrie, his grandchildren Juliana Marie and Joshua James, a brother Douglas W. Baker and his wife, Marie and their children, and his fiancée Jean Vilers and her daughter Arlene Walch and son-in-law Jason, and grandchildren Jonathan, Collin, and Ryan. Survivors also include many cousins.
At Jim's request, there will be no calling hours or funeral service. He will be recognized in a full military honors ceremony at a later date and interred at the Saratoga National Cemetery.
In a parting tribute, his son Jim asked everyone who knew his father to remember "Big Jim" by one of his final sentiments. That is, he looked back on his life saying: "You know, I've had a pretty good run."
We truly loved you Dad; you will be missed.
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