Leslie Baker, Jr., 93 of rural Pittsfield passed away Monday, December 21, 2009 at Illini Community Hospital in Pittsfield.  He was born March 2, 1916 in Perry Township in Pike County, IL, a son of Leslie H. and Mary Powell Baker.  He married Louise Elledge on February 20, 1944 in the home of her parents by Bro. Joe T. Maynard.

Leslie was a member of the New Hartford Christian Church where he served for forty years on the church board as an elder and deacon and served for forty years as the men’s Sunday school teacher.  He was the Pike Hot Shots 4-H leader for thirty years, member of the Pike County Farm Bureau for sixty years, and leader of the Pike County Rural Youth.  He and his wife Louise were members of the Country Couples Dance Club and he loved to camp and belonged to the Fireside Camping Club.  Leslie and Louise have spent over twenty-five years wintering in Texas and were fortunate to travel to Alaska in 1987 with George and Dorothy Garner.

Leslie was best known for his grain and livestock farming, had farmed all of his life in Pike County, IL, and never drew a regular paycheck. 

Surviving is his wife, Louise, one son, Kent (Mary) Baker of Pittsfield and one daughter, Brenda Mays(Pastor Ed) Buell of Terre Haute, IN.  Surviving are eight grandchildren: Geoff Baker of Foley, AL; Allison Myrick of Madison, MS; Brian Baker of Pittsfield, IL; Nathan Baker of Jacksonville, IL; John Buell of Orchard Park, NY; Matt Buell of Terre Haute, IN; Scott Buell of Hazelwood, MO; and Jennifer Atterson of Rolla, MO.  Also surviving are six great grandchildren: Wyatt Baker, Nolan Baker, Peyton Buell, Brayden Buell, Colton Buell and Eden Atterson.  Two sisters, Evelyn Ward of Pittsfield and Kathryn Stevenson of Bedford, VA also survive.

He was preceded in death by a son Carl Baker in 1996.

Services will be held on Sunday, December 27 at 2 P.M. at the Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield with Pastor Ed Buell officiating.  Burial will be in the Pittsfield West Cemetery.  Visitation will be held on Saturday evening, December 26, 2009 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Niebur Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorials be made to the New Hartford Christian Church, the Shiloh Christian Children’s Home or African Christian Mission.

Condolences may be sent to the family at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield is handling the arrangements.