Dear Shelling Friends:

Another sad passing to relate.  John Baker, long time member of the
Astronaut Trail Shell Club and the Conchologists of America (COA) died at
the age of 90.  A wonderful early picture of John is at the website of the
information listed below:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/floridatoday/obituary.aspx?n=john-baker&pid
=148778700&fhid=10209

"John Allen Baker of Merritt Island, Florida

"John Baker, 90, Chief Master Sergeant USAF (Retired), entered peacefully
into the presence of His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, February 7,
2011. He was surrounded by loving friends who cared for him as family until
the time of his death.

"John will be greatly missed by many who knew him to be a loving and
generous encourager of others along with the contagious joy he carried in
life. He was a lover of seashells and music and most of all, for Christ and
His people.

"A Memorial Service for John will be held this Sunday, February 27, 2011 at
6 PM at the Bethany Bible Chapel, 101 SE First St. in Satellite Beach. There
will be a time of fellowship and refreshments immediately following.

"In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to VITAS Hospice, 4450 W. Eau
Gallie Blvd., Suite 280, Melbourne, FL 32934."

John was one of the early members of COA since at least 1973.  There was no
kinder or gentler person than he.  He was always a gentleman, a kind and
soft-spoken man who loved to laugh.  John true to his last name was a great
baker and his carrot cake was legendary.  His parents were from Eleuthera,
Bahamas which is where he learned to love shells.

John was a past president of the Astronaut Trail Shell Club, and was a COA
convention co-chair for the COA in Melbourne, Florida in 1990.  He was
always a vigorous supporter of COA, being our club's long time COA rep.  I
believe he was once a Trustee of the COA.  At the St. Louis COA convention
when our St. Louis members wanted to hear the presentations, John offered to
man the reception booth to allow them to attend.  Homer Rhode of Englewood
tells the story that he and John were roommates at a COA and both were
bidding on the same land shell at the COA oral auction.  After several
raises of the bid John yelled across the room to Homer: "Homer, stop
bidding, I'm buying the shell for you!" That story expresses well his
generosity.

John was not active in shelling over the past decade and was in declining
health.

John Baker had the wonderful legacy that there were only good things to say
of him, and you were happy whenever you saw him.

God bless you, John, and good shelling.

Alan Gettleman
Merritt Island, FL

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