General Information

Birth
23 OCT 1935
Onda Community, Washington County, Hog Eye, Arkansas
Death
24 OCT 2025
Burial
Baptist Ford Cemetery, Washington County, Greenland, Arkansas

Notes

Norman Gale “Bud” Baker, age 90, of West Fork passed away Friday, October 24, 2025. He was born October 23, 1935 in Onda, Arkansas to William Edgar and Arizona Mae Richardson Baker.

He was a member of the Baptist Ford Community Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jacqueline “Jacque” Baker and son, Steve Jones.

Bud is survived by three daughters, Debi McDonald, Cheri Bryant and her husband Willie, and Yvonne Little, all of West Fork; three sons, Marty Jones and his wife Debbie of Decatur, Scott Baker and his wife Becky of Farmington, and Bill Baker and his wife Tiffany of Colville, Washington; one sister, Connie Freriks of Stinnett, Texas and one brother, Randy Baker of West Fork; 15 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren, and five great great grandchildren.

Bud grew up in Northwest Arkansas, attending school in several of the small communities near Fayetteville before graduating from Prairie Grove High School. He later served in the Army, deploying to Germany before returning home to become a carpenter. He married Jacque on April 25, 1970, and they raised seven children together. They were happily married for 44 years. Bud worked as the Maintenance Supervisor at West Fork Schools, retiring after 19 years of service. He enjoyed the job, the people he worked with, and interacting with the kids.

If you knew Bud, chances are you really liked him. He was kind, caring, honest, funny and hard working. He always seemed to have a smile on his face. He was the kind of person who brightened your day when your paths crossed. Bud was loved by many and will be missed.

Visitation will be 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at Moore’s Chapel. Funeral service will be at 2:00 pm Wednesday, October 29 at Moore’s Chapel with burial to follow at Baptist Ford Cemetery.

To place an online tribute, please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com

Parents

William Edgar Baker
- Father
1899 - 1988
Birth
1 AUG 1899
Arkansas
Death
8 MAR 1988
West Fork, Washington County, Arkansas
Arizona Richardson
- Mother
1903 - 1977
Birth
15 MAR 1903
Death
24 DEC 1977
Washington County, Arkansas

Spouse

Betty Jacqueline Jacque Tharpe
- Wife
1933 - 2015
Birth
13 DEC 1933
Pensacola, Escambia, Florida, USA
Married
25 APR 1970
Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas
Death
4 FEB 2015
Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas
Burial
Baptist Ford Cemetery, Washington County, Greenland, Arkansas

Children