Former Hugoton resident Charles Leonard Baker passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at his residence in Ponca City, Ok. He was 74.[it-exchange-member-content membership_ids=”485,313″]
Born June 30, 1938 in Miami, N.M., he was the son of Charles Baker and Marie Dudley Baker (Salazar).
Leonard lived in Houston, Tx. prior to moving to Hugoton where he made his home.
September 19, 1964, Leonard and Nita Littrell were married in Hugoton.
Mr. Baker is a member of the First Christian Church and worked for the Stevens County Highway Department for 36 years. Leonard enjoyed fishing and working with wood, and donated his time and efforts to helping to build Hugoton’s Dirtona Raceway.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years Nita Baker of Ponca City; daughter Holly Baker Thomas and son-in-law Daron Thomas of Haltom City, Tx.; grandchildren, Lance Mantzke and companion Crystal Baker and Tyler Mantzke all of Hugoton and Amanda Elmore and Darci Thomas of Fort Worth, Tx.; five great-grandchildren; his six siblings, Gene Salazar and LeRoy Salazar of Hugoton, Rosie Brown of Robert Lee, Tx., Bonnie Salazar of Espinola, N.M., Gladys Goodwin of Colorado Springs, Co. and Charlotte Kallenbach of Rolla; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter LuCinda Baker Mantzke; and siblings Ann, Margorie, Stella, Norma, Cora, Alvin, Maurice, Elizabeth, George and Marvin.
Services for Leonard will be Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Hugoton with Pastor Randy Nash officiating. Committal prayers and interment will be in the Hugoton Cemetery under the kind guidance of the Stittsworth Funeral Service of Enid, Ok.
The family has selected Hospice of North Central Oklahoma or American Cancer Society as appropriate for memorial donations. [/it-exchange-member-content]