Kenneth Baker, 88, of Driftwood, Texas passed peacefully at his home in the early morning hours of Saturday, December 30, 2017.
A celebration of his life will be held at 10am, Friday, January 5 at Harrell Funeral Home Chapel, 1715 Kirby, Kyle, Texas 78640 with Pastor Jim Davis officiating. Interment will follow at Driftwood Cemetery in Driftwood. There will also be a visitation time from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home on Thursday, January 4. Those wishing to sign his guestbook may do so at http://www.harrellfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Kenneth-Baker-19/.
To many he was known as Kenneth or Ken, but to his immediate family, he was Pawsie. Pawsie was born January 16, 1929 in Navasota, Texas to Claud Leon and Hazel Ann (Warren) Baker. He was the 3rd son of 4 and the last one to pass. Upon an early high school graduation and turning down a full ride scholarship to Texas A&M, Pawsie went on to live out many life adventures and become a jack of all trades…and master of several. He drove trucks for his father’s trucking company, as well as Brown and Root, and even owned his own delivery trucking company. At one point, he learned to fly and was a pilot of his own private aircraft. He loved racing drag boats in the 60s and 70s and even held the speed record for a time and was sponsored by Pennzoil. It was during this time that he worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and met and married Barbara (Reid Boyce). He “retired” from Southwestern Bell in 1981 after 35 years of service so he could find enough time to not only design but also teach himself how to and then build a home for his family in Driftwood, Texas, where he lived until his final hours. In his retirement, he not only taught himself how to build their home, but also how to operate a backhoe. He and his son Greg founded Driftwood Construction Company in 1984, and they worked together for many years installing septic systems and building various construction projects. Throughout all these years, one of Pawsie’s biggest loves was gardening, tending to his orchard, and making things grow. He had a green thumb and knew the answer to anything you would ask him. He lived life to the fullest measure and had a story to share for practically every step of the way.
Pawsie is survived by his wife Barbara (Mawsie) of 45 years, his son Greg Boyce and wife Tina of Driftwood, TX, his daughter Kim (Boyce) Heideman and husband Dennis of Lockhart, TX; grandchildren Becca (Heideman) Schultz and husband David, Kassi (Heideman) Guzman and husband Steven, Garrett Boyce and fiancée Jordan Reynolds, Hanna Heideman, and Maddy Heideman. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren: Chloe, Cheyenne, Benjamin, Carli, and Jackson Schultz, AND Jacob and Preston Guzman. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and extended family. Pall bearers are Greg Boyce, Dennis Heideman, Garrett Boyce, David Schultz, Steven Guzman, Tracy Baker, Dale Campbell, and Gene Lermuseaux, Jr. Honorary pall bearers are Bruce Lermuseaux and Kurt Lermuseaux. We all love you and will miss you dearly, Pawsie!
