Michael Edward Baker

Michael Edward Baker, 68, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
Mike was born in Seminole, Oklahoma on January 2, 1956, the son of Robert Alan and Virginia Lee (Cawthon) Baker. The family moved to Farmington, New Mexico when Mike was two and then on to Wyoming when he started fifth grade. The family lived in Casper and then Newcastle before finally settling in Gillette where Mike graduated from Campbell County High School. He excelled there and was voted Most Likely to Succeed, was Valedictorian, and served as Senior Class President and National Honor Society President. After high school, Mike went on to the University of Wyoming, where he earned an BS degree in Business Administration / Industrial Management and was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity.
Following graduation, Mike joined Conoco Pipe Line Company as a Pipeline Engineering Trainee in their management development program and remained at the company throughout his career. Once again, Mike excelled, progressing through Pipeline into other departments including Product Supply and Trading and Natural Gas Liquids. Throughout these years, he also made lifelong friends. Mike remained at Conoco Inc., then ConocoPhillips, and later Phillips66 for 40 years until his retirement in 2018.
Mike's love of family was always foremost. He met his wife Jennie (Vought) Baker while both were working for Conoco in Tulsa. They were married in 1991 and remained loving partners and parents for 29 years until Jennie's death in 2020. Together, they shared three children, Marcie, Leslie and Graham, who were Mike's greatest source of pride. He remained active in their lives, supporting them in all of their artistic and athletic endeavors, and later in their professional careers. He was such a proud parent!
Mike was well known for his wonderful sense of humor. He was also an avid golfer and loved playing top courses around the United States. He loved to travel and never said no to a new adventure. He loved music, frequently going to concerts and musical theater productions. He also loved the friends he and his family made in their Wilchester West community, friends that quickly became extended family and where he is known by many as "PB," a nickname given to him by Jennie. Galveston was Mike's "happy place," and he spent as much time as possible at the Bay House with family and friends, often serving up his famous grilled lobster tails with herb butter. He was a longtime member of Memorial Drive United Methodist Church and served on the church's Caring Forever Foundation since 2021, serving as Chair for the last two years.
Mike is loved immeasurably by his family. He is survived by his daughters, Marcie Raye Baker (Tommy Chenault) and Leslie Louise Baker Neal (Colton Neal), and his son Graham Dunning Baker (Jennifer Baker); brother Bob Baker (Debbie) and sister Kellye Fazio (Vince); father-in-law Robert Vought; sister-in-law Roxie Allen (Mike) and brother-in-law Tom Vought; numerous nieces and nephews, and his companion of the last few years, Debbie Fralix. He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother-in-law Mary Joy Vought, and his adored wife, Jennie.
Mike's Celebration of Life will be held at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas, on Friday, February 9, 2024, at two o'clock in the afternoon. Immediately following, a reception will be held in the Friendship Court. For those who cannot attend, the service will be streamed live through the church's website at www.mdumc.org/mikebaker.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in honor of Mike to the Caring Forever Foundation at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church.