Obituary for Donald J. Baker
Donald J. Baker, 79, of Woodway, Texas passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 13, 2019, surrounded by family and loved ones.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at First Woodway Baptist Church, 101 N. Ritchie Rd., Woodway, Texas with the Rev. Terry Graham officiating.
The family will receive guests immediately following the service at The Pavilion at the Carleen Bright Arboretum, 9001 Bosque Blvd., Waco, Texas 76712.
Don was born April 1, 1940 in Austin, Texas and moved to Waco in 1949. Upon graduation from Waco High School in 1958, Don majored in business at Baylor University where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1962. Two months later he earned his CPA certification.
In 1964, he graduated from Baylor Law School and went on to graduate from New York University School of Law in 1965 with a Master of Laws in Taxation. Don had many accomplishments to be proud of during his 50-year law career as he was appointed to practice in multiple courts throughout the United States and Texas; US Court of Appeals, US Tax Court, US District Court and the Supreme Court of Texas.
In addition to being a successful attorney, Don was an avid member of the Waco community, spending many hours supporting local organizations; he was President of the Northwestern Little League (now known as Lake Air Little League), Commissioner of the Texas Teenage Baseball League (District 14), Boy Scouts of America, Downtown Waco, Goodwill Industries and a Lifetime Member of Ducks Unlimited, just to name a few.
In 1991, Don was elected as a Woodway City Council Member and subsequently elected as Mayor of Woodway in 1994. When he retired a Mayor after 23 years, Don was (and still is) the longest serving mayor in Woodway’s history. In 2013, the City of Woodway honored Mayor Baker for his service and dedication by forever naming the Council Chambers the “Donald J. Baker Council Chambers.”
If Don was not at work or making his community a better place, you would find him enjoying time with his beloved wife of 52 years, Charlie. He also enjoyed spending quality time with his grandchildren, playing golf, hunting, fishing, traveling and days at the ranch.
Don is survived by his wife, Charlie; son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Robin Baker of Houston; daughter and son-in-law, Stacey and Allen Brown of Crawford; grandchildren, Aaron, Jesse and Colton; and nephews, Mark Baker of Waco and Phil Baker of Houston.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Trey Gerdes, Artie Giotes, Tom Hancock, Larry Hawkins, Rodney Kroll, Jerry Don Mathis, Brian Pollard and Yost Zakhary.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be sent to Carleen Bright Arboretum, 9001 Bosque Blvd., Waco, Texas 76712, in memory of Donald J. Baker.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at First Woodway Baptist Church, 101 N. Ritchie Rd., Woodway, Texas with the Rev. Terry Graham officiating.
The family will receive guests immediately following the service at The Pavilion at the Carleen Bright Arboretum, 9001 Bosque Blvd., Waco, Texas 76712.
Don was born April 1, 1940 in Austin, Texas and moved to Waco in 1949. Upon graduation from Waco High School in 1958, Don majored in business at Baylor University where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1962. Two months later he earned his CPA certification.
In 1964, he graduated from Baylor Law School and went on to graduate from New York University School of Law in 1965 with a Master of Laws in Taxation. Don had many accomplishments to be proud of during his 50-year law career as he was appointed to practice in multiple courts throughout the United States and Texas; US Court of Appeals, US Tax Court, US District Court and the Supreme Court of Texas.
In addition to being a successful attorney, Don was an avid member of the Waco community, spending many hours supporting local organizations; he was President of the Northwestern Little League (now known as Lake Air Little League), Commissioner of the Texas Teenage Baseball League (District 14), Boy Scouts of America, Downtown Waco, Goodwill Industries and a Lifetime Member of Ducks Unlimited, just to name a few.
In 1991, Don was elected as a Woodway City Council Member and subsequently elected as Mayor of Woodway in 1994. When he retired a Mayor after 23 years, Don was (and still is) the longest serving mayor in Woodway’s history. In 2013, the City of Woodway honored Mayor Baker for his service and dedication by forever naming the Council Chambers the “Donald J. Baker Council Chambers.”
If Don was not at work or making his community a better place, you would find him enjoying time with his beloved wife of 52 years, Charlie. He also enjoyed spending quality time with his grandchildren, playing golf, hunting, fishing, traveling and days at the ranch.
Don is survived by his wife, Charlie; son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Robin Baker of Houston; daughter and son-in-law, Stacey and Allen Brown of Crawford; grandchildren, Aaron, Jesse and Colton; and nephews, Mark Baker of Waco and Phil Baker of Houston.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Trey Gerdes, Artie Giotes, Tom Hancock, Larry Hawkins, Rodney Kroll, Jerry Don Mathis, Brian Pollard and Yost Zakhary.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be sent to Carleen Bright Arboretum, 9001 Bosque Blvd., Waco, Texas 76712, in memory of Donald J. Baker.