Stanford Baker's Obituary
Stanford “Stan” Baker, 84, of Boonville passed away on Saturday, May 9th, 2026, at Riverdell Care Center.
Stan was born on September 7th, 1941, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Clifford and Neva Baker. His family moved to Albany, Missouri, for a brief time. When they returned to Kansas City, he remained in Albany to finish high school and graduated in 1959. While still in school, Stan enlisted in the Navy as a “Kiddie Cruiser.” He attended Naval boot camp and radio school in San Diego, California, after graduation. He served on an Admiral’s staff, Commander, Carrier Division in the Pacific Fleet (ComPacFlt 7) as a radioman. He was honorably discharged on September 6th, 1962.
Stan enjoyed cartooning from a young age and sold his first cartoon to the Albany Ledger while a freshman in high school. He attended the Kansas City Art Institute and graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design. While at the Institute, he met and married Gertrude “Trudy” Tegtmeyer. They were married for 24 years. After graduating, Stan was accepted into the continuing education class for graphic design (Weiterbildungsklasse für Graphische Gestaltung) at Allgemeine Gewerbeshcule Basel in Basel, Switzerland. Stan and Trudy lived in Switzerland for three years.
Upon leaving Switzerland, Stan worked for the Royal Ontario Museum in Ontario, Canada, before accepting a graphic design position in New York City. He ultimately started his own firm, Stan Baker & Associates, Inc., in lower Manhattan. In the mid-eighties, as the art world was transitioning from traditional pens and brushes to digital design and media, he attended the School of Visual Arts at Lehman College in New York. This led to a new role with Bertelsmann Music Group. Stan was at work in Manhattan on September 11, 2001, just blocks from the World Trade Center, and witnessed the Twin Towers fall.
Stan relocated to Boonville, Missouri in 2002. He continued to do freelance cartooning and graphic design work and also worked part time at the Isle of Capri Casino. He enjoyed local theater and musical performances and was a regular at the Lyceum Theater in Arrow Rock, Missouri. He loved animals. In 2024, he became a resident at Riverdell Care Center.
Stan was preceded in death by his parents Clifford and Neva, his sister Donna, and his brothers Clifford and Earl. He is survived by his daughters, Thara Baker-Alley (Joe Alley) of Boonville, Missouri, and Taisia Gordon (Terry) of St James, Missouri; and grandchildren Evan, Hayden, Kira, and Maya.
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