Westfield – Gordon H. “Mike” Baker, 86, died Friday, October 6, 2017 in the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. He was born in Westfield on December 14, 1930, to the late William and Helena (Lemanski) Baker. Mike grew up in Westfield, attended local schools and was a graduate of Westfield Trade School. He received a B.A. and Master’s + 30 from Westfield State College. He served in the National Guard and worked as a boiler-tender in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Mike worked at Westfield Woodworking for many years and was a teacher in the carpentry Dept. at Westfield Vocational High School, retiring in 1995. He and his wife spent winters in Florida and he sang and played guitar for over 40 years in his Country Western band, “Mike Baker and the Country Gentleman”. He was a member of American Legion Post 124 and enjoyed woodworking, drawing and story-writing in his spare time. He was pre-deceased, in 2016, by his wife of 59 years, Lois M. (Sierastki) Baker. He leaves his son Ernest Baker and his wife Kris of Huntington, his grandsons, Karl Baker and his wife Jenifer, Jared Baker, his wife Heidi and great-grandson, Heath, and granddaughter, Audra Baker and her husband Jay Stockard. Mike also leaves his brother Paul Baker and his wife Dot of Chicopee, his sister Phyllis Dance of Wolcott, CT, his sister–in-law Margery Greany of Stuart, FL., and many nieces and nephews and friends. The funeral for Mike will be held on Monday, October 16th, at 10 am, at the Firtion-Adams Funeral Service, 76 Broad Street, Westfield. Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Sunday, from 1-4 pm. Donations may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104. Firtionadams.com
