Curtis Dee Baker

Curtis Dee Baker, 60, of Salem, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, August 28, 2021. Born in Minnesota on March 6, 1961, to Leonard Dee and Betty Jo East Baker, he is preceded in death by his father.

Curtis served as a line haul driver for FedEx for 26 years and enjoyed working with his wife, Donna, doing furniture restoration. The screened-in back porch was his favorite room in the house and where he spent every morning sharing mugs of hot coffee with his love. The couple loved to travel and could have bags packed with only a moment’s notice and simply get on the road and go! Music was his heartbeat and while he could play just about anything you handed to him, the dobro was his signature instrument. He jammed with various groups playing different genres – he simply loved to play! Model railroading was another hobby that kept him busy, and detail focused. Curtis also loved to play in the dirt. He was a gifted gardener who created “rooms of garden” throughout his yard during the growing season. He took great pride in his greenspace and was especially proud of his roses. Curtis never met a stranger and his quick and clever wit served him well. He could recite Dr. Seuss books from memory, complete with animated and expressive voices for each stories’ characters, much to the delight of his children and grandchildren. Above all, he adored his family and was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Those left to cherish his memory are his mother, Betty Jo Baker; wife, Donna Baker; children, Erin (Conor) Heely, Adam (Masaki) Baker, Olivia Baker, his “bonus daughter”, Amanda (Riley) Capps, and Matthew (Meredith) Crews; grandchildren, Finn, Jack, and Bette; as well as a sister, Saundra (Anthony) Robando.

An inurnment service will be held on Tuesday, September 7, at 10:00 a.m. in the Cremation Gardens of Sherwood Memorial Park, 1250 East Main St., Salem, Virginia.