Jay C. Baker

In 1934 in Tulsa, Robert Hughey and Gwen Baker had their first child, Jay C. Baker. His childhood and teen years were filled with talented and memorable baseball teams, all coached by his father. He graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1952 and entered Vanderbilt University that fall. Jay graduated cum laude from Vanderbilt in 1956, where he was a catcher on the SEC Baseball Team. He then graduated at the top of his class from the Oklahoma University College of Law. In law school he was the Article & Book Editor of the OU Law Review, the recipient of the Liberty National Bank Scholarship Award, and Research Assistant to the Dean. He headed the Dean's list all semesters and upon graduation, he was inducted into the Order of the Coif, an honorary scholarship society. After graduation from law school, Jay entered the practice of law with his Father and the two of them sailed under the banner of Baker & Baker. Soon, there will have been a Baker practicing law in Tulsa County for over 100 years. Jay published several legal articles and served as Public Defender in Tulsa County for 18 months in the early '60's. When the Oklahoma Supreme Court's caseload became too onerous for the Court, he served as a Supreme Court Commissioner and once again as the Chief Judge of the Oklahoma Temporary Court of Appeals. He was the attorney for the Town of Skiatook for 32 years. He also shouldered the burden of representing the unpopular. In the mid 70's he represented a 16 year old child who had shot an Oklahoma Highway Patrolman. Sentenced to death by the trial court, the case wound its way to the United States Supreme Court, where Jay, appointed by the Court and serving without compensation, personally argued the case to the Court and achieved a reversal (Eddings v. Oklahoma). After years of litigation, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals modified the sentence of death to a life sentence. Instrument rated, he loved flying and his plane. He was always able to see the humorous side of human affairs and was simply a pleasant person to be around. Because of his life the world is a better place. He leaves behind his children, Jeffrey (Naz) and Bliss Lowe (Craig). He was preceded in death by his son, Kirk, and his brother, Pete. Charlene Meadows, Shirley Cox, Emily Baker, Gary Henry and Bill Ramsey were every bit the family to Jay as anyone above and were all a significant part of his life. At his direction, there will be no funeral. A celebration of Jay's life will be held at McNellie's South City, 7031 S. Zurich Ave, Tulsa, OK, May 24, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com

Jay C. Baker

August 23, 1934 - May 20, 2016