Layton Slade Baker

Layton Slade Baker, 24 of Paris, Texas passed away on October 20, 2019. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at First Baptist Blanchard, in Blanchard, Louisiana, officiated by Bro. Jay Alexander and special speakers, Matt James and Josh Miller. There will be a time of visitation from 6-8 PM on Tuesday, October 22nd at First Baptist Blanchard. Burial will be at 11:00 am on Thursday, October 24th in at Covington Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Covington, Tennessee.

Slade was born on September 4, 1995 in Memphis, Tennessee to Michael “Craig” Baker and Kelly Hazlerig Baker. He lived in this area for 19 years before moving to Texarkana, TX to attend Fire Fighter School, where he lived with his second family, George and Peggy Spears. He moved to Paris in 2017 where he served as a Paris Fire Fighter. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Texarkana where he worked as an intern for the youth minister. He also worked as a Turning Point Leader for 3 years, camp recreation director for 1 year, camp team leader for 2 years, camp representative for high school ministry, and middle school camp leader. Slade received the Timmy Lenear Scholarship upon graduation from Northwood High School, he also excelled in baseball and football while in high school. He was 1st team All-District, 2nd team All-City, and 2nd team All-State for baseball and 1st team All-District and District Champions for football.

Besides spending time with his family and friends, Slade had a passion for serving others. He loved to make people laugh and he loved his LSU Tigers. He was an excellent firefighter, always striving to better himself both professionally and as a person. He loved life and was always smiling, and was the first to offer help to anyone who needed it. He had a true servant’s heart. No matter whether you were lucky enough to either know Slade on a personal basis or had met him in passing, he left a lasting impression on all. To know Slade is to love Slade. One thing for sure, he is in heaven walking with Jesus begging him to make sure LSU beats Alabama this year! Geaux Tigahs!!!

Slade is survived by his father, Michael “Craig” Baker and wife Heather of Mooringsport, LA, his mother, Kelly Hazlerig Baker of Covington, TN, his brothers Tanner Baker of Covington, TN, and Conor Tarno and wife Brooke of Mooringsport, LA, and sister Kelsye Faith Baker and fiancé Kevin Chesney of Blanchard, LA, his grandparents, Bruce and Faye Hazlerig of Covington, TN, Donna Krachen of Rossville, TN, Debra B. Alexander of Mooringsport, LA, and Ben and Betty Baker of Covington, TN. He is also survived by his favorite little people, his niece Conleigh and nephews, Cash and Jax, his uncles, Todd Baker and wife Amber of Rossville, TN, Cary Krachen and wife Rachel of Atoka, TN, Jay Alexander and wife Kim of DeRidder, LA, and his aunts, Heather Herron of Collierville, TN and Sondra Lardiere and husband Jack of New Jersey, and numerous cousins and close friends he considered family.

Pallbearers will be Matt James, Dustin Brown, Caleb Lawrence, Jerrick Peterson, Zane Corbell, Conor Tarno, Tanner Baker, and Captain James Dority. Honorary pallbearers will be his fellow fire fighters and friends.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the Paris Fire Department for their love and support and for never leaving Slade’s side.