Jack Baker

Jack Lynn Baker, 72, of Mountain Home passed away Sunday, October 22, 2023, in Yellville. He was born May 9, 1951, in Mountain Home to James Baker and Florence (Talburt) Crump. Jack graduated from Mountain Home High School and from Southwest Baptist University. He had a Master's degree in Public Administration from UALR, 1985. Jack used his talents working in many areas, beginning with DFA Revenue Services here in Mountain Home, as a Caseworker/Special Investigator for Ark Social Services, Little Rock and Assistant Administrator at Southwest AR Mental Health Center in Pine Bluff. He also completed six weeks training at the Federal Law Enforcement Academy in Georgia for his job with Social Services/Medicaid Fraud Division in Little Rock. Jack finally returned to Mountain Home in 1979, as Administrator of Leisure Lodge Nursing Home and became the Materials Manager at Baxter Regional Medical Center from 1981 until 1991. He began his first business, Mountain Paging System, which became Mountain Communications as he added Motorola two-way radio sales and service, then computer sales and service. He had multiple towers in southern Missouri and north central AR for the paging system and radio service for multiple businesses. Jack added a low power TV station. After Mountain Communications closed, he worked in computer sales and service even though his Parkinson's disease had been affecting his mobility. He couldn't stop working, however, and invested in the nation -wide paper called Tidbits, which provided information and fun reading for the area. He finally had to stop working as Parkinson's disease made it impossible to continue.
Jack was a member at First Baptist Church and for over 20 years assisted with the sound for services and the radio and TV broadcast of services. He loved working in this ministry and was able to use his creative talents to work through technical challenges. His family referred to him as "MacGyver" as he could take a few parts in the garage and build a working computer. He had been active in the Lion's Club years ago and gladly served for 9 years as a Justice of the Peace. Jack was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease at age 41.
Jack was taught, as the oldest of four boys, how to cook and mend clothes and garden. He loved his mother's 14 day sweet pickle recipe which he made sure was passed on to his wife. His love of ketchup and ice cream remained to the end. Jack loved his family, church and friends. Jack is preceded in death by his mother, Florence Baker.
Jack is survived by his wife, Deborah Baker; two daughters, Tracy Tilley and husband, Shane Tilley and Kelly Baker and husband, Dominic DiMaggio; his father, James H. Baker; three brothers, Jim Baker, Dennis Baker and Bruce Baker; three grandchildren, Aiden Tilley, Isabel Tilley and Cecilia Baker- Hefley and eight nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m., Sunday October 29, 2023, with the funeral to follow at 2:00 p.m., at the Conner Family Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Tad Rogers officiating. Burial will follow the service at the Douglas Cemetery under the direction of Conner Family Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Parkinson's Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131 or the First Baptist Church Sound Ministry, 400 Club Blvd, Mtn. Home, AR 72653.