Stanley Peyton Baker

Stanley Peyton Baker, age 77, of Dallas, Texas, passed away on January 27, 2022, with his wife and daughter by his side. He was predeceased by his son, Stanley Kevin Baker, in July of 2019. Stanley is survived by his wife, Nancy Ann Baker; his daughter, Susannah Peyton Perry and son-in-law, Timothy Aaron Perry; grandson, Ryan Patrick Hollis and his wife, Brianna Boom Hollis; his granddaughters, Alyssa Shae Perry, and Alyson Peyton Perry; and great-grandson, Miles Wolfe Hollis.

Stanley’s Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX, 75225.

In Lieu of Flowers by: Shawna Lemay

Although I love flowers very much, I won’t see them when I’m gone. So in lieu of flowers: Buy a book of poetry written by someone still alive, sit outside with a cup of tea, a glass of wine, and read it out loud, by yourself or to someone, or silently.

Spend some time with a single flower. A rose maybe. Smell it, touch the petals.

Really look at it.

Drink a nice bottle of wine with someone you love.

Or, Champagne. And think of what John Maynard Keynes said, “My only regret in life is that I did not drink more Champagne.” Or what Dom Perignon said when he first tasted the stuff: “Come quickly! I am tasting stars!”

Take out a paint set and lay down some colours.

Watch birds. Common sparrows are fine. Pigeons, too. Geese are nice. Robins.

In lieu of flowers, walk in the trees and watch the light fall into it. Eat an apple, a really nice big one. I hope it’s crisp.

Have a long soak in the bathtub with candles, maybe some rose petals.

Sit on the front stoop and watch the clouds. Have a dish of strawberry ice cream in my name.

If it’s winter, have a cup of hot chocolate outside for me. If it’s summer, a big glass of ice water.

If it’s autumn, collect some leaves and press them in a book you love. I’d like that.

Sit and look out a window and write down what you see. Write some other things down.

In lieu of flowers,

I would wish for you to flower.

I would wish for you to blossom, to open, to be beautiful.