Johnny Ray Baker, 68, of Berrien Springs, passed away peacefully at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, from anaplastic thyroid cancer.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, November 1, at Rose Hill Cemetery in Berrien Springs. Messages and memories may be shared online at www.allredfuneralhome.com.

Johnny was born August 20, 1954, to Lorene (Speckem) and James Ray Baker at Pawating Hospital in Niles. Johnny attended most of his school years at Berrien Springs Public Schools. Johnny drove semi- truck. He was an ace pool player, and he loved to tell jokes and make people laugh. He liked to practice the dying art of bartering, and he enjoyed fishing and dining out.

He had three favorite nephews who he enjoyed spending time with: Jason, Nathan, and Nicolas Martin. He also had a sister, “Susie” (Lauren Sue Baker Martin—Mrs. Steve Martin) who he liked to talk to and taught to fish. Johnny liked to pick on his 

brother-in-law, Steve.

Johnny was preceded in death by his dad, James Ray Baker; grandparents: Earl and Audrey Baker, Beulah Speckem Arnold, and Jake Speckem; and two nephews, Matthew and Jason Martin.

He leaves behind his mother, Lorene; sister, Susie; brother-in-law, Steve; nephews, Nathan and Nicolas; and his very loved dog, Buddy.

When recently asked, Johnny said he was happy and fine with life because he had accepted the gift of peace God gives, and quoted the verse John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, peace I give you”. He commented, “That peace, like any gift, a person has to accept the gift to get it”.