Danny Harold Baker

Danny Baker was born in Lake City, Tennessee to Luke and Mary Baker on April 29, 1946. He died on April 1st in Prescott, Arizona, succumbing to Alzheimer’s. 

Danny was raised in Dayton and New Lebanon, Ohio but spent many fun-filled summers visiting his grandparents and cousins in Tennessee and Florida. These summers helped form his strong affection for the south. 

He attended Wright-Patterson High School in Dayton, after which he earned an Engineering Degree from ITT Tech Dayton in 1972. Danny met and married Linda McSherley, and they had two children, Mike and Christy, whom he loved dearly. 

One of Danny’s professions was a test car driver for General Motors, a position that brought him to Scottsdale where his love of the West began. He moved his family to Arizona and, but for a short time in Tennessee where he owned a general store (the source of many favorite stories and memories), settled in Prescott.

There he worked for Embry Riddle University as the Plant Facilities Director, Prescott Unified School District as Transportation Director and the City of Prescott as Purchasing Director. 

Danny married Kayanne Schmitt in 1996. Their years were full of adventure – riding and picnicking with friends in their MGs, traveling to see family – and full of laughter. Friends will attest, Danny’s sense of humor was one of his best traits. 

In 1997, he opened Celebrations and Ceremonies, a costume and party rental business. Danny’s favorite part of the business was helping customers find the perfect costume, and he became known as the “costume man”. 

Danny is survived by his loving wife Kay, his daughter, Christy Gilroy, stepdaughters, Lisa (Kirt) Nilsson, and Laura Willems, sister Carolyn Loan, brother Jesse Coffman and his grandchildren Colin, Olivia, McKenna, and Klein as well as many loving nephews and nieces. He is predeceased by his parents; step- father, Elmer Coffman; son Mike and brothers Ron Baker and Ed Coffman. Danny was very proud of his family. He will be remembered as playful, affectionate, a collector of many items and a lover of music.   

 In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Danny’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011 or online at www.alz.org.