Larry Dan Baker

Larry grew up on a dairy farm west of Yukon, OK. He attended Yukon Elementary School with his younger brother Terry. In 1960, his father sold the dairy farm, and the family moved to Dallas where Larrry attended Obediah Knight Middle School. Then the family moved to south Dallas, where he attended Kimble High School.

In 1963, they moved to Waco, where he attended La Vega High School. Then the family moved to Bryan, Texas, where Larry graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1966. After working part-time at Schulman theaters, Larry joined the Navy at the encouragement of his dad, a Navy veteran, who said, "They have the best food."

While in the Navy, he served as a radar operator on several ships, including the USS Mullinnix. On a tour near the DMZ in Vietnam, while the crew were passing ammunition, he said he caught a shell that had been dropped. It landed on his class ring, bending the ring, but keeping the shell from exploding.

When stationed in the Black Sea, part of his job was taking photos of Russian ships as they passed alongside taking pictures of American ships.

After the Navy, Larry went to Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX, graduating with a Bachelor's in TV Production and a minor in photography.

After college, he got a job with Eastland Photography taking photographs of courthouse records around the state of Texas. In the following years, Larry supported himself by buying, repairing and selling photography equipment on Ebay.

During this time, Larry married first Becky, and later Nelda, and got a job with Dana Corporation in Waco.

When Dana Corporation shut down, Larry moved to his parents' farm in Lott, where he built a barn that he converted to his residence and continued his creative skills. As his parents aged, Larry moved into their house to assist them.

After his father died, he continued to take care of his mother with the help of Connie Melcher, her housekeeper.

After several seizures, he was no longer able to help care for his mother. In 2019, he and his mother were moved to Silver Pines Nursing and Rehab Center in Bastrop, TX, where she passed away in 2021. He lived here until his death June 5, 2025.

Larry is survived by his brother Terry Baker of Calvert, TX, sister Sherri Baker Bryant and husband, Alan of Cedar Creek, TX, nephew David Bryant of Houston, TX, and niece Mary Hernandez Bryant and husband, Juan and their two daughters Arimy and Addie of Cedar Creek, TX.

Graveside services will be 1:00 PM, Thursday, June12, 2025 in Hillcrest Cemetery in Marlin.