Jerry Eugene Baker

Graveside services will be 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018, at Forrest Cemetery for Jerry Eugene Baker, 84, of Rainbow City, who passed away Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. The Rev. Bert Cornelius and Rev. Ken Ingram will officiate. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services directing.

Mr. Baker served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He began working in the health care industry as a radiology technician at Baptist Hospital and advanced through the organization to serve as the President and CEO of the Baptist Memorial Hospital and the Baptist Health Services Foundation.

Mr. Baker served on the board of numerous health care organizations including the CED Mental Health Center, Ambulance Services, Inc., The Community Health Foundation of Gadsden and Etowah County and Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Alabama. He was also a member of numerous associations such as the American Hospital Association, the American College of Health Care Executives and the UAB Alumni Society and Legislative Network.

Mr. Baker was also involved in many community activities including serving on the board of the Gadsden Chamber of Commerce, AmSouth Bank, the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Alabama and the Rainbow City Utilities Board. He also sat on the Advisory Council for Gadsden State Community College and was a member of the Gadsden Rotary Club and the Alabama Baptist State Convention. He also served as the President of the Gadsden Museum of Arts.

Mr. Baker was a member of the Coosa Valley Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon.

As a young man Mr. Baker competed in track at Gadsden High School and boxed in Golden Gloves. Later in life, he was a gentleman cattle farmer, enjoyed traveling, coin collecting, playing golf, hunting, listening to his beloved wife play the piano and, most especially, enjoyed spoiling his grandchildren.

Mr. Baker was preceded in death by his parents, Lucy Dale Baker and John Euri Baker; brothers and sisters, Ruth McLaughlin, Kathleen Heaton, Vernon Baker, Willard Baker and Kirby Baker.

Mr. Baker is survived by his wife, Margaret Usry Baker; children, John William Baker (Cynthia) and Melissa Anne Naseman (Roland); grandchildren, William and Lauren Baker, Blakeley Walker, and Kaleb and London Naseman; and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Terry Smith, Roy Bright, Jimmy Heaton, Mark McLaughlin, Jerry Wimpee, Jr., Juan Pinedo, Lewis Fuller and Aaron Swindall.

Honorary pallbearers are Ronnie McClure, Weldon Hamby and Ronnie Holaway.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Lung Association or the American Cancer Society.

Special thanks to Sharon Busby (caregiver), Weldon Hamby (special friend), Noele Brenner (nurse), Missy Williams (nurse), Diane McCrannie (CNA), Dr. John McAtee, Dr. James Williams and Dr. Andres Forero.

The family will receive friends 2-3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home prior to the service.