James Wayne "Jim" Baker, 57, of Novinger, Missouri, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, March 17, 2022.

The son of Donald Wayne and Joyce Ann (Bond) Baker, he was born June 12, 1964 in Kirksville, Missouri. On June 20, 1987 in Kirksville, Missouri, Jim was united in marriage to Denise Mikesell.

Jim is survived by his wife: Denise of the home; his parents, Donald and Joyce Baker of Kirksville, MO; his son, Christopher Wayne Baker of Novinger, Missouri; brother-in-law, Douglas Wayne Mikesell and wife Patricia of North Carolina; one niece, Alexa Mikesell of North Carolina, and one aunt, Donna Bond of Kirksville, MO.

Jim was a graduate from Kirksville Bible School with the Class of 1982. He worked as an EMT/Paramedic for a number of county ambulance districts until going to work as a health safety supervisor at Con Agra in Milan. Jim then went to work for TMC Trucking Company out of Des Moines and later for Gully Transportation in Macon. Jim owned and operated a catering business and in 2015 opened Baker's Smokehouse in downtown Kirksville where he enjoyed meeting and visiting with his customers.

Jim enjoyed: hunting, fishing, gardening, barbecuing, loved blue grass and southern gospel music, spending time with friends, but most of all he was a very proud and devoted son, husband, and father.

Jim was a devoted member of Church of God (Holiness) of Kirksville.

Public visitation will be held Sunday, March 20, 2022 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 21, 2022 at Church of God (Holiness) with Pastor Ralph Wheeler officiating. Interment will follow the service at Park View Memorial Gardens in Kirksville.

Pallbearers will be Bobby Poston, Jeff Osborn, Bruce Baker, Brian Baker, Norman Forman, and Dick Taylor.

Memorial donations in memory of Jim may be made to Church of God (Holiness) and may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.