Marshall “Gene” Baker passed away Monday, September 19, 2022, at the age of 89, in Madison, Alabama. He was a wonderful father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.
Gene was born Saturday, December 3, 1932, to Charles and Adelaide Baker in Cedarville, Michigan. He left home at age 16, moving to Detroit to live with an older sister. He joined the Army during the Korean War and returned to Michigan in 1954.
In 1955, Gene met Joanne Williams, of Paris, on a blind date. The two were married Saturday, June 2, 1956, at the East Wood Church of Christ and returned to Michigan. They moved to Paris in 1959.
Gene went to work for Salant and Salant in 1959 and worked until the company closed in 1979. In 1982, Gene opened Paris Fashions using the old Salant building on East Washington Street. In 1992, Gene retired from Paris Fashions but didn’t stop working. In the mid-1990s, he began developing the Paris Harbor subdivision. He was named Industrialist of the Year in 1989 by the Paris-Henry County Civic League; served on the Freed-Hardeman University President Advisory Board in 1995; and was a trustee for the Tennessee Children’s Home from 2002-2006. Active in his church, he served as an elder at the East Wood Church of Christ and the Van Dyke Church of Christ.
Gene’s wife Joanne and daughter Marsha Diaz predeceased him.
He is survived by son: Mike Baker, daughter-in-law: Amy Baker; grandchildren: Lacey and Jordan Smith, Katelyn and Dan Strohmeyer, Alyssa and Wil Rose, and Cole Baker; great-grandchildren: Kaden Weaver, Kenslee Weaver, Kolton Smith, and Everly Strohmeyer. He is also survived by two siblings: Nancy Allen, of Gallatin, Tennessee, and Albert Baker, of Cedarville, Michigan.