James Leon Baker

James Leon Baker, the man, the myth, the legend. Men wanted to be him and women wanted to be with him. James Leon Baker took his last breath on August 31, 2016 sitting behind his desk at his automotive shop. He was dragging himself to work everyday even as he grew weaker, which would show in his hands that were callused and tired from a lifetime of hard work. James loved his family dearly and was always helping someone in need. He loved his cows, riding his tracker, gardening, deer hunting, fishing, working in his yard, and anything else he could do to beautify his home and property. As you pull onto the driveway at his home on Sand Rock Ranch you will immediately recognize him in everything you see from the ranch style home and fence on the hill, the thick St. Augustine grass, the various shrubs and flowering bushes, the cows grazing underneath the pecan tree, and most of all the sprawling live oak trees that he planted up the driveway and all around his home. He loved a good steak, Bluebell homemade vanilla ice cream, and entertaining his family and friends at his home with crab or crawfish boils. Although there were so many women before, including at least one marriage, and several women in between, he was married and divorced 4 times to the love of his life Kathi Ellis Baker for the most part of 43 years. He was extremely charismatic and flirted with any woman in sight. All it took was one look into his mesmerizing green eyes and you were hooked. He started working at a transmission shop as a young man and worked hard to learn everything he could about the business. It wasn't long before he was able to open a shop of his own where he made a very lucrative living for a man with only a 7th grade education. He'd done so well that he sold his businesses and attempted retirement before he was even 40 years old. It didn't take long before he realized being home all the time was not for him and he started opening and running more shops both in Texas and Alabama. In the end he did what he loved literally until the day he died. He was preceded in death by his son, James "Buddy" Baker, his mother, Glennie Mae Waldrop, his brother, Tommy Joe Waldrop, his sister, Willie Jean Robertson, and his sister, Sylvia Johnson. He is survived by his wife Kathi Ellis Baker, his sister Cathy Hultz, his brother Dennis Waldrop, his brother Glen Waldrop, his sister Jeanie Mae Waldrop, his children Theresa Coon, Thomas Baker, James Baker, Alicia Johnson, Autumn Baker, 18 grandkids, and his first great-grandchild was born just minutes after his death. His family is welcoming visitors on Monday, Sept 5, 2016 at Radney Funeral Home in Saraland from 5pm-8pm to celebrate his life legacy. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday Sept 6, 2016 at 11AM followed by a procession to Pine Crest Cemetery. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-saraland.com. Arrangements by Radney Funeral Home, 1200 Industrial Parkway, Saraland, Alabama 36571.