Leigh Baker quietly slipped into eternity the morning of July 16, living a long and interesting life in which he touched the lives of many lifelong friends and acquaintances. In his teenage years he was able to spend summers on the family owned farm in Aurora , Ohio. It was there he developed a love and wonder of nature that he has passed along to his family. After graduating high school he entered the U.S. Navy in WWII to become a specialist in radar and sonar to work on destroyers in the Pacific Theater.

He purchased a pair of boots in a Sundry store in Pearl Harbor that he wore aboard the USS Sierra and from that point forward for the rest of his life he was known to all as “Boots”. After the war he attended Case Western Reserve in Cleveland until he loaded up everything and moved to Daytona Beach, Florida area where he spent all but the last 2 years of his life. He recently passed the 60 year mark as a Mason. After settling in the Daytona area he engaged in the hardware business at Dunn Brothers Hardware, followed by years at Ray Smith Electric. He also owned his own painting company, and retired after a short stint as a home inspector.

He celebrated 30 years of marriage with his wife Evelyn A (Metzgar) Baker of Brooklyn, NY. He was a devoted husband to Evelyn, and enjoyed his time with children, Leigh Baker IV, Harriet Johnson, Buck Gwyn, Florence Palmieri, and Emily George. He was proud of his grandchildren, Leigh Baker, V, Zachary Johnson, Brooks Johnson, and Michael Palmieri.

He was an avid bowler, in the Florida Bowling Hall of Fame, who didn’t call it quits until his 80’s. He was also an avid outdoorsman and a member of the Tomoka Gun Club and later the New Smyrna Beach Gun Club. As the years progressed, his shooting continued through the sights of a camera as he journaled each hunting season with his own warmth and humor. He also shared many hours with his son, Leigh IV, fishing on the Halifax River, Tomoka River, and Spruce Creek. He spent much time engaged in family and high school activities with his daughter, Harriet. There are also many treasured weekends spent at a fishing camp on Lake Ashby.

He spent his last three years in the care of his family We will miss his humor, love and wisdom.

Boot's family in Raleigh will celebrate his life with a memorial gathering on July 26 and a Mass offered at St Luke's on Aug 26, 8:30am; in Daytona, FL a memorial service on Aug 16; and finally his urn interment and graveside service in Ohio on Sept 12, 2014. Contact his daughter, Harriet Johnson for additional information, 919 341 7323.