Christopher Ryan Baker

Chris was born February 6, 1985, in Fort Worth, Texas, to parents Kevin Baker and Julie (DeGroote) Baker Hood. His public-school education began in the Fort Worth school system and culminated in his graduation from Wills Point High School in 2003. After joining the workforce and taking classes at various colleges, he met and married Letitia Gammage in 2007.

He led a life of adventure and accomplishments, both personally and professionally. He enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Combat Documentation Specialist (25V) in September 2007, and attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. Following Basic Training, he attended Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at the Defense Information School (DINFOS) at Fort Meade, Maryland, where he graduated with honors in 2008.

During this training he obtained a special pass from his instructors to fly home for an event that would become his most important mission in life. On January 19, 2008, he was able to witness the birth of his son, Jonah Vincent, whom he considered his greatest joy and adventure.

Throughout his military career, Chris attended Airborne Training, Air Assault Training, and several leadership courses where he set himself apart from others as a strong and charismatic leader and soldier. During his ten years of military service, Chris attained the rank of Sergeant/e-5 and achieved his Air Assault and Parachutist qualifications. During his overseas deployments, he fought in Afghanistan during the Global War on Terror, where he received the Combat Action Badge and was decorated twice with the Army Commendation Medal by the First Special Forces Group. Other Badges, Awards, Service and Campaign Medals include the NATO Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (3 Awards), the Army Achievement Medal (2 Awards), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and multiple service and professional development awards and certifications.

The army offered a once in a lifetime opportunity when he and his family were stationed in Stuttgart, Germany to an assignment at the United States European Command (EUCOM). His love of travel and photography flourished as he visited many of the European countries. Some of his best times were touring Europe, especially Ireland, and making memories with his son. He loved the fact that when Jonah requested a trip to Paris for his 6th birthday, he and Letitia were able to take him there and fulfill that wish. In 2014, he and his family were stationed at Fort Meade again where he continued to set himself apart by leading missions to Thailand, California, and Cuba.

He left the military in 2017 and returned to his native Texas where he re-enrolled at UT Arlington to pursue a degree in Public Relations, while also working for the U.S. Postal Service. Chris spent his free time surrounding himself with friends and family, making the most out of every day. He sought local adventures with Jonah and maintained a daily presence in his son’s life despite his schedule.

Christopher leaves behind his son, Jonah Baker, and Jonah’s mother, Letitia Hanna; his mother, Julie Hood; his sisters Briana Amyett and Brittany Baker, and stepsisters Sarah Young and Amy Church; his grandmothers Nancy DeGroote and Marilyn Baker, and grandfather Frank Baker; as well as a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, in-laws, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Kevin Baker; his stepfather, Tim Hood; and his grandfather, Jerry DeGroote.

Services will be held in The Chapel of Chimes at Laurel Land Memorial Park.

It’s so much darker when a light

goes out than it would have been

if it had never shone.

--John Steinbeck

A final note: Once when Chris and Letitia were out and about in Ireland, the festive night grew long and turned to the wee hours. As the merrymaking wound down, the traditional Irish folksong “A Parting Glass” began to play. The song captivated Chris, the lyrics seeming to speak to him. It is a song of farewell, a last call if you will, that combines sadness with joy-- the hallmark melancholy invoked by many an Irish ballad. The final verse feels like the farewell Chris would wish for us. So raise A Parting Glass to Chris, to each other, to life, to loss….

O, all the comrades that e'er I had,

They are sorry for my going away,

And all the sweethearts that e'er I had,

They would wish me one more day to stay;

But since it falls unto my lot,

That I should rise and you should not,

I will gently rise and softly call

"Goodnight, and joy be with you all."