David Lee Baker

In memory of our loved one, David Lee Baker, who passed away on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. He was surrounded by his wife and daughters. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

David was born on November 12, 1945 in Kansas City, Missouri to Silas Howard and Peggy Anne (Shores) Baker. While attending Muskogee High School, he played baseball and was a championship wrestler. After graduating, he attended Bacone College on a baseball scholarship and received his Associate Degree. David then went on to major in architectural engineering at Oklahoma State University, where he met his sweetheart, Phoebe Gay Oakley. They were married in Tulsa, OK on February 24, 1968.

Soon after they were married, David left for sea duty with the Navy on the USS Bennington, stationed in Long Beach, California. When he returned, Phoebe met him in Long Beach, where they lived for six months. He was then transferred to Brunswick, Georgia, where he received training as an air traffic controller. After training, his next assignment was in Goliad, Texas; while there, they had their first daughter Carrie. After completing his assigned duty, they moved to Tulsa where David worked as a draftsman until he was hired by the US Government to work as an air traffic controller in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Three years later their second daughter, Allyson, was born. In 1981, a career change for David took the family back to Tulsa, Oklahoma. He became an estimator for a roofing company that he eventually purchased and renamed Baker Roofing.

After retirement, David enjoyed spending his free time on the golf course and became so good that he made a hole in one! He was competitive, his goal being to always score his age or below each time he played. When he was not on the golf course, he and Phoebe enjoyed traveling. Their first trip was to a bucket list destination: the Northeast Coast in the fall. Other locations they traveled to included Ireland, Scotland, Sedona, Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest. David also became a master griller for his family, his specialties including steak and barbecue chicken, which he learned to cook by watching his father-in-law.

David was a generous and friendly person. He never met a stranger, and often made his family crazy because he would talk to anyone and everyone about anything for extended amounts of time, including but not limited to: the grocery store, toll booths, restaurants, and all medical staff. David was an Oklahoma State football and Atlanta Braves baseball fan. He also enjoyed solving puzzles and playing games and cards. He loved his pets, especially Bentley, and often told his daughters to stop feeding the stray cats, because they ended up becoming part of the family. David was a jokester and enjoyed making people laugh. He was a loyal husband of 55 years, a devoted father, a proud “UpUp”, and an all-around genuine human.

David is preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Peggy Baker. He is survived by wife, Phoebe of Glenpool; daughter Carrie and husband Donald Wilson of Tulsa, and daughter Allyson Cauthon of Kiefer. He was also “UpUp” to his grandson Henry Cauthon.

A memorial service to honor the life of David will take place at 11 AM on August 7, 2023 at Schaudt Tulsa Funeral Service: 5757 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74145, with Pastor Joshua Weeks officiating. The Navy Honor Guard will also be present to perform Military Honors in remembrance of David and his service to his country.

Once the memorial service concludes, the family invites guests to attend a reception for David from 12 PM to 3 PM in the Schaudt Tulsa Wine Room: 5757 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74145.

In honor of David and his love of the great game of golf, please feel welcome to join the family by wearing polo shirts for his memorial service.

Anyone wishing to send flowers for the service may do so by contacting Wild Orchid Florist directly at (918) 254-1819 https://www.wildorchidflorist.com/

Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt Tulsa Funeral Service.