Maynard D. Baker Sr.

1930 - 2021

Maynard D. Baker, Sr.

Apr. 17, 1930 - Apr. 19, 2021

Maynard D. Baker, Sr., formerly of Thurman and Warrensburg, and most recently of South Glens Falls, went home to Jesus, on Monday, April 19, 2021, two days after his 91st birthday, following a brief illness.

Due to his parent's job assignment, Maynard was born in Sandusky, OH, April 17, 1930, being the son of the late Archibald Joseph and Edna Mae (Brainard) Baker.

With an eighth-grade education from Warrensburg Central School, he left to work as a Butcher and other odd jobs to help feed his family. Barely the age of 16, Maynard fudged his paperwork so he could serve his country. On July 30, 1946, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving under the command of Admiral Halsey as Fireman First Class aboard the USS Oregon City (CA-122) and then the USS Portsmouth (CL-102), porting in both the Atlantic and Mediterranean areas. During these two years serving his country, he wired money home to continue caring for his family. Maynard was proud to have served two years aboard ship being honorably discharged three months before he was able to vote.

After being awarded the World War II Victory Medal and honorably discharged July 23, 1948, Maynard returned to his hometown working at various places such as Karl J. Duell's Oldsmobile Garage, the Warrensburg Pulp and Paper Mill, Double "A" Provisions in Glens Falls, American Locomotive in Schenectady, then at Alfred Najar's Sawmill in Wevertown where he worked with Glendale Rounds, his future father-in-law.

On October 4, 1953, Maynard married Ruth Glenda Rounds at the Kenyontown Methodist Church in Thurman.

After leaving the sawmill, Maynard worked for Dick Lewis doing carpentry work, and "on the side", in January of 1954, with Ruth, they rented a portion of Carpenter's Garage to open a 24-hour truck stop diner, namely the Toll House Diner, where Maynard was well known for his homemade soups and pies.

Maynard was a self-propelled man. Having worked for a well-known mason, Gene Therian, Maynard learned the trade well and later became his own mason contractor for many years, building various landmark foundations in the surrounding areas, as well as literally crawling on his hands and knees from Pottersville to Schroon Lake helping to build the new Interstate 87 concrete highway.

Meanwhile, being inspired by local funeral directors, Cass McCloskey and Lee Orton, Maynard created and welded his own steel burial vault form and started the Adirondack Walcor Concrete Burial Vault Firm, where he was a franchise dealer and manufacturer of Falcon Vaults forming them in his garage at his home in Thurman.

While residing in Thurman with his family, Maynard served five years as Justice of the Peace and also on the town board for eight years.

He then went on to earn his funeral directing license, graduating as Class Treasurer, from American Academy-McAllister Institute in NYC while working at and earning his Apprenticeship from A.G. Cole Funeral Home in Johnstown and finishing at the Walter B. Cooke Funeral Home in Jackson Heights, NYC.

In the fall of 1967, with financial help from Bill and Kay Maltbie, Maynard bought the Gladys Murphy home at 114 Main Street in Warrensburg, where he moved his family, establishing the Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, which opened the following year. Jack Arehart Sr.'s funeral, his first unofficial call, was held in Jack's home, due to the fact the funeral home was still under construction. Then his second call, the first in the new establishment, was his wife's grandmother, Pearl (Pelletier) Baker, whom he loved dearly, stating "this is God's way of helping me to understand the grief of others as they enter the building". The business continued to flourish under Maynard's operation, allowing him to sponsor many community fundraisers and functions. One being "Maynard's Dollies", a girls softball team who still today mention how proud they were to be one of Maynard's Dollies.

In 1986, Maynard sold the funeral home to John Alexander, who still owns and operates as the Alexander-Baker Funeral Home today.

During his "retirement", Maynard built and operated Bakersfield East Campground and Event Center on Schroon River Road in Warrensburg with his then wife, Josie, until 1998 before passing ownership onto his daughter and son-in-law, Amber and Tom Grace.

Serving his community was very important to Maynard. Through the years, he served as a member of the Thurman Volunteer Fire Company, Warrensburg Volunteer Fire Company and Emergency Squad, a member of the Glens Falls Mason's Union, the Warrensburg Lodge No. 488, International Order of Odd Fellows, being the last known member, where he was a past Noble Grand, Wevertown Wisteria Rebekah Lodge No. 501, a member of the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce, Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Haskell Bros. VFW Post No. 4821, Warrensburg American Legion Post No. 466, Queensbury B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge No. 81, South Glens Falls Eagles Club, Adirondack Solidarity Alliance, National Rifleman's Association, and the NYS Magistrates Association, and a member of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

From success as serving as Thurman's Justice of the Peace for five years and as a local funeral director for many years, Maynard was also elected by the people of Warrensburg to serve as their Town Supervisor from 1987 to 1997. During his tenure, Maynard was noted for overhauling the infrastructure, lighting, and sidewalks of Main Street, closing the dump and opening the new landfill 7 days a week, constructing a newer sewer system, upgrading the water quality by drilling two new water wells, and helping to expand the Warrensburg Health Center. Lobbying for grants, Maynard was successful in completing these projects while maintaining a balanced budget. During those same years, Maynard also served on dozens of committees while serving on the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

In 1998, following his tenure as Warrensburg Town Supervisor, Maynard bought property at 11 Lafayette Street in Queensbury where he built and operated a brand-new Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, opening July of 2000, originally due to the rising costs of the region's chain-owned funeral homes. Proudly, this led to the three generations of Baker funeral directors: his daughter Starr, son Bud and his wife Linda, and grandchildren, Cassia and Titus.

Proud to be a veteran himself, Maynard was a well-known advocate for veterans' rights, eager to help their cause in any way. One way was fighting the Adirondack Park Agency, and other agencies, to open area lands and lakes to the mobility impaired and to our great American veterans. Many will recall the notorious Crane Pond incident which gained international notoriety on 20/20 and 60 Minutes, and the Adirondack Freedom Fighters Northway Ride. His more recent goal was to open 40 large remote lakes in the Adirondacks to disabled people, which he fought for passionately until the day he died.

His faith in God was especially important to him and it became even more evident in the latter part of his years. While attending Kingsbury Wesleyan Church on Green Barn Road, he met Janice (Seeley) Roberts, and they married on October 11, 2009. After the church's closure, he and Janice attended Oneida Community Church, with Rev. Mark Bailey, Pastoring. There he met the traveling quartet, Mark 209, which he so fondly loved. He also got a lot of enjoyment from watching the Gaither's televised show in both music and message. A favorite pastime was playing Dominoes with his wife Janice and friends.

Many years ago, Maynard was quite the Pinochle player. He was also quite a race car driver, driving car #33 1/3 at the Warrensburg Racetrack located behind Ashes Hotel. His local notoriety came from being an avid hunter, fisherman, and pilot sharing great times with his many cronies, such as Harold Fuller, Tommy Bennett, Ralph Pasco, Dr. Anthony "Sonny" DiGiovanni, Fred Monroe, Sr., Karl Duell, Jr., Dick and John Potter, Jim Rafferty, Merv Hadden, Paul Reddington, John Cahill, Don Lawrence, and Herb Helms just to name a few. Maynard loved to play "cat and mouse" against Encon officers and game wardens leaving them either shaking their heads in bewilderment or scratching their heads in fury. He enjoyed flying his seaplane with his fishing buddies into many lakes and rivers including Hudson Bay area in Canada. He enjoyed family vacations, fondly with his mother and children, remembering such trips as to Disney World, and to our Nation's Capital. A trip he ventured on his own was to Iceland. He treasured many years at the Lloyd Camp, living on the Schroon River and at "the cabin by the pond".

Most important to Maynard was his family, his extended family, and numerous friends. He was always willing to help in the cause of others, financially, mentally, or physically. When Jessica McClure fell in the well in Midland, TX, Maynard was there, furnishing her oxygen while trapped at the bottom of the well. When someone was in need of food, Maynard was there whether it was sharing his venison or fish, or cooking up a great meal, especially in his pressure cooker, or giving them a ride, or fighting for their legal rights. He was a loving dad who was always proud of his family and heritage. In his youthful years, Maynard enjoyed a cold one or looking for a fight at such places as 1000 Acres, Northwoods, Wayside, Warren Inn or Ashes, and more recently, he enjoyed a good cup of coffee, either at Bill's Restaurant, or Kerry's Northway Diner, just to soak up other's viewpoints, and to share his, or just to exchange a few jokes, or hunting or fishing stories. He lived for the news, local, nationally, and worldwide.

This past January 29, 2021 Maynard was the guest of honor at the NPTU Saratoga Navy Base where the original #3 Engine Maynard helped to operate while he was aboard the USS Portsmouth during WWII was used to train thousands of sailors. A sailor at the ceremony hand carved his ship and the code on a beautiful plaque presenting it to him. He was beyond honored. The promotion ceremony was reminiscent filled with the traditional Navy theme songs, and sailor rhetoric he so fondly could relate to. To see him go back in time and relive some of his sailor days, even if it was for a few moments was priceless.

His last days were cherished by celebrating his 91st birthday among his large family and friends and by the care he received from his wife, three daughters and eldest grandson, Jarrod.

Maynard was predeceased by his father, Archie, in 1958, his mother, Edna, in 1997, one grandson, Caleb Lincoln Baker on August 26, 1987 of SIDS at merely 7 weeks old; one brother, Edwin J. Baker just 12 days prior to his own passing; a "son", Eric Ginsberg; two brothers-in-law, Dominic Arcuri and Gary Rounds; two nieces: Melissa Arcuri-DeLucca and Suzie Baker; a nephew, William "Billy" Frye passing just 20 days prior as well; a father-in-law, Glendale Rounds; a step-granddaughter, Lauren Pronto; a very special dog, "Shadow" whom he shared with his granddaughter Teagan and his more recent dog, Peanut.

Survivors include his wife, Janice, of South Glens Falls; his four children: Glenda (Kent) Duell of Athol, Maynard "Bud" (Linda Owsley) Baker, Jr. of Andover, NY, Starr (Bruce) Mowery of Bolton Landing, and Amber (Thomas) Grace of Warrensburg; the mother of his children, Ruth (Rounds) Wadsworth of El Paso, TX; 15 grandchildren: Jarrod York, Carrie (York) Alkaram, Luke Duell, Karl Duell IV, Erinnae (Baker) Cline, Titus Baker, Alethia (Baker) Ortner, Carissa Baker, Cassia Rafferty, Kyland Rafferty, Teagan (Rafferty) Cobb, Jordan (Grace) Oakden, Haley Grace, TommiLee (Grace) Sachleben, and Quinn (Grace) Henson; 24 great-grandchildren: Michael, Sidney, Rachel, Elliana, Farook, Hajer, Yaser, Lina, Chelsea, Hannah, Abigail, Adylynn, Isabella, Livinnia, Gunner, MarliMae, Cormac, Keaton, Thompson, Emerick, Hudson, Elizabeth, Cynthia; and one great-grand baby Ortner on the way; one great-great-grandchild, Levi Joseph York; former wife, Josie Baker and her family; two sisters: Verna (Herb) Springer of Warrensburg, and Linda Baker of AZ; two brothers: James (Barbara) Baker and Fred (Debbie) Baker all of Warrensburg; two sisters-in-law: Herma Baker of Athol and Linda Rounds of Warrensburg; Eric Ginsberg's family: Rachel, Robert and Spencer; a step-daughter, Tina (Mark) Pronto; a step-grandson, Justin Howard; step granddaughter, Christy Pronto; several cousins, many nieces, nephews; many dear friends, with special mention of his funeral school classmate, Mike Durant; his cat Baby, and his little dog Bailey.

Friends are invited to call upon his family, Friday, April 23, 2021 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY 12804. During the visitation, the B.P.O.E. Lodge No. 81 will perform their Lodge of Sorrow, and the American Legion and VFW Posts will also perform a brief ceremony.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with Reverends Mark Bailey, Loren Gage, Lee B. Call, and Nathan Herrmann, officiating.

The procession to Warrensburg Cemetery will be led by the Patriot Guard Riders. Burial, with military honors, will be performed by Hudson Falls American Legion Post No. 574 and bagpipes performed by Mark Kelsey. He will be laid to rest next to his beloved maternal grandparents, Ira Jay and Maude (Everts) Brainard.

Pallbearers will be his six grandsons, Jarrod, Luke, Karl, Titus, Kyland, and Haley. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. John Rugge, Bryan Rounds, Michael Durant, Allen Powers, and Bud York.

Guests are invited to join Maynard's family for a luncheon at his daughter's restaurant, Lizzie Keayes, 89 River St. Plaza, Warrensburg, immediately following the burial.

Donations may be made, in loving memory of Maynard, to a VFW or American Legion of one's choice.

Condolences may be mailed to Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY 12804, or to www.bakerfuneralhome.com.