William Douglas Baker
October 28, 1947 ~ June 18, 2017
Resided in:
Arden, NC
Arden, NC ~ William Douglas Baker, 69, Arden, NC stepped into the presence of our Lord Jesus on Father's Day, June 18, 2017. Doug's heart, kindness, respect, talent, and love for his family and God are noted and honored by all.
Doug is survived by his wife Rebecca Lequire Baker, his son, William Luke Baker (Danielle Morales), daughter Amanda Horton (Josh Horton), and daughter Heather Robison (Reed Robison), and six grandchildren: William, Jackson & Camden Horton, and Gabby, Ben, & Max Robison.
Douglas was born in Burlington, NC to the late Newell E. Baker and Edith Rives Baker. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Janet Sojka and Edith Rudder and two brothers, Chester Baker and Newell Baker. He is also survived by two brothers, Benjamin Baker and Mack Baker and his wife, Eleanor; a brother-in-law, John Rudder and a sister-in-law Frances Baker
Doug served the State of North Carolina for 38 years in the field of addiction and the advancement of addiction treatment. Mr. Baker earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees at Eastern Carolina University in psychology/sociality, clinical psychology, and child development & family relations. He retired as Facility Director of JFK Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment center, Black Mountain, NC.
A huge part of Doug's life was his love of old-time music and clog dancing. In particular, his contributions as a member of the world famous Green Grass Cloggers dance team. He was the only GGC to have danced with all of the different incarnations of the team--the early Greenville, NC days (he joined the 46 year-old team in 1972), the Road Team (which he was instrumental in initiating in the late 1970s), the Greenville Home Team, and the Asheville "Road Team" (moving to Flat Rock in 1980). Known jokingly for a time as Captain Clog, he was in recent years an invaluable "wrangler" of the various team members, particularly at combined Greenville-Asheville performances and GGC reunions for which he drafted stage entrances and lineups and counted down to stage time to keep the meandering masses as together as possible. His freestyle routine never failed to incite cheers from audiences when he would start swinging his legs out in a variation of the Smoky Mountain step. He was also the creator of the Possum Hop step, so named by another clogger because Doug grinned like a possum. Doug embodied so much of what makes the Green Grass Cloggers the infectious, vibrant curators and creators within traditional Southern Appalachian dance, and he will be missed immeasurably.
The joy he imparted to others, in all he did, was his signature trait.
A celebration of Doug's life will be held at 6:30 pm, Friday, June 23, 2017 at the Church of the Resurrection, 116 Sweeten Creek Road in Asheville, NC with Father William McLoughlin officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Baker family, 10 Chipping Green Drive, Arden, NC 28704.
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I am so very sorry for your loss. My prayers are with all of you.
How grateful I am for the many times Doug’s journey around the sun and my journey around the sun crossed paths. Such a gentle man with such strong character and such a strong desire to bring harmony and healing to people in need. I’ve loved two redheads in my life — my dear Edith and our dear Doug. I will now miss them both as I continue a life this side of the grave.
So very saddened to hear of this, Doug was a dear friend, and an encouragement to me during his years at JFK ADATC. I will always be grateful for his encouragement when I mentioned I would like to do wood carving. I loved the time spent when he would come to the house to share carving secrets, or just spend time as friends. Family, he loved you dearly and would always talk of you during these visits. He will be sorely missed, but I’m grateful to know where he is…
So so sorry Luke.
Becky and Family: I am so sorry to hear about Doug. He was such a nice person to work with. He was so proud of you Becky and Luke and your children Becky. He always smiled when he spoke of all of you. I recently ran across a Santa necklace that he made for us in the office for Christmas one year. I have often thought about you all and wondered how you were doing. He loved dancing and woodworking. Keep all of your wonderful memories close to your heart and they will bring a smile to you when you need it the most. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Luke, Very sorry for your families loss.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
To Doug’s family and friends – I offer my condolences and sincere appreciations for having known this remarkable man. Doug hired me and acted as my direct supervisor for over 7 years at the JFK Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center. His knowledge and wisdom helped us navigate the systems we needed to conquer in order to serve people in need of treatment and help. He cared for us all and for his Faith community, dance community and carving community. I am so stunned and saddened, but know that his love for his family was utmost in his life! The world will be a little less bright without his presence.
I am so sorry to hear of Doug’s passing. He was a wonderful man and very passionate ab out his work. I feel very blessed that our paths crossed. Many prayers and blessings for your family.
Dear Luke and family, May I offer my profound condolences to you as a small part of what you and your family will need and receive to shore you up at this time of grief. May you all hold each other up at this time in the memories you have.
Our deepest condolences. We are so sad to hear of Doug’s passing. Doug was a kind and good man and he will be missed. We enjoyed working with him for many years. We are sending out love and prayers to the family in this tough time.
So sorry and shocked to hear this news. I worked with Doug for 6 years and had such admiration for his kind heart. I especially enjoyed his passion for woodworking and dancing, and thought he would have many years in this world to do the things that he loved. May prayers and blessings be with you and your family during this difficult time.
Becky and Luke, I am so sorry to hear about Doug. I enjoyed working for, and with, him very much. I will miss his quiet smile. I saw that smile a lot whenever he spoke about his family, he was especially proud of both of you. I worked with him during Luke’s 4 years of college and the look he had while talking about Luke was priceless. I hope he had a chance to spend much of his retirement with you, woodworking and dancing. He was a kind and talented man – and will be sorely missed. <3
Luke, please accept our most heart-felt condolences for the loss of your father. Mike and Cindy
Just shocked and heartbroken to hear about Doug’s passing. He was one of the first people I met when I moved to Greenville in ’74. We worked together for years at the ‘Jones’ He was a good friend and housemate. We hung out, went to grad school together, worked together and lived large as single guys in Greenville in the late ’70s’ He was such a kind and gentle person.I just feel such an incredible sense of loss. Please accept my condolences.
You and your family are in our thoughts
and prayers. God bless and comfort you in the days ahead.
Doug, we at the church are going to miss you, Big Guy. I have a feeling you won’t be too far away. Becky, my note is on the way to you.
To the Baker Family, and My Dear Friend Becky,
I am so, so sorry to hear about Doug’s passing. I wish I was still in Hendersonville to give you a big hug and let you know it will be okay, I will pray for you and the family and am sending you all my love and thoughts throughout the next few days. Don;t lose faith at this difficult time, God will watch over you. My love and condolences!
Luke you and your family are in our prayers tonight we are so sorry for you and your families loss.With God and one day at a time. you’ll get thru it .
Such a sad and sudden loss. We were so lucky to have him as a friend and dance partner in Green Grass for all these years. Becky and Luke we are holding you in our hearts.
To Doug’s family. I knew Doug in high school and had seen him at some of our reunions. He was always a great fellow, and the world is surely a lesser place with his passing. He always wanted to help people. John Hutton, Oak Island, WHS Class of 66.
My prayers and condolences I extend to the family of Doug. I was fortunate to grow up with Doug in Burlington, N.C. where we attended the same schools, church and participated in many of the same activities growing up. I just got to speak with Doug again at our 50th High School reunion last October and it was great to catch up on one another’s lives. He was always a friend and a very kind person growing up. I will miss him!
To Doug’s family. I went to school with Doug and saw him at our High School reunions. He was a joy to be around and I always loved seeing him clog for all of us. Our prayers are with you all. Heaven will seem more like home to you now with Doug to meet you there… Benny Vickrey, Lexington NC, WHS Class of ’66.
Condolences to you and your. Doug was a wonderful person who will be missed. I will pray, over this tragic loss,for his family
I met Doug very early in my 33 year MH/DD/SAS career. He always had a smile on his face and a positive attitude that rubbed off on you. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Your memories will always bring you pleasure and the thought of meeting him again in Heaven will bring you peace.
So sorry to hear of your loss. I clogged with Doug and the GGC for two years only, 1972-74, but I vividly remember the red hair and that grin! Always that grin.
Dear Becky and Luke, Words cannot express how heartbroken over Doug’s passing I am. A friend like Doug comes along once in a lifetime, he was more than a friend , he was like family. He was more like a brother to me, my only consolation is knowing that he is in a better place. All my Love and prayers are with you.
I was a classmate of Doug’s at Walter Williams High School and played with him on the football team. He was a talented and dedicated athlete and a good friend to all who knew him. I enjoyed catching up with Doug at our 50th reunion last October. He still had the sparkle in his eyes and the desire to learn what his friends were doing in their lives. He passed on way too early and will be sorely missed by his family and many friends.
I was so saddened to hear of Doug’s passing. Doug was my first supervisor at the Department of Mental Health and he and I shared a love of addiction treatment specifically treatment of opioid use disorders. I followed his footsteps as he was my mentor. Each year my Christmas tree is adorned by two beautifully designed and created wooden ornaments that Doug gave me 15 years ago. My thoughts and prayers are with Becky and the rest of the family.
Doug and I were freshman at ECU fall 1966 in room 455!
This giant Strawberry Red Football player walked in the
Room, sat on his bed, introduces himself and just lets out
The most infectious GRIN!
Did anyone know he collected Johnny Mathis records?
He could sing everyone and sounded exactly like Johnny!!
A great listener and a tremendous Thinker!! He cared
For humanity and lots of Character ‘?️
Sincere sympathies to each of you.
Sincerely
Jim Crooke
Raleigh NC