Greenfield, MA – David Marshall Baker, 77, of Overland Rd., died Monday February 16, 2026, at the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA. He was born on June 28, 1948, at Camp Carson, CO to Marshall E. Baker and Muriel (Jokisch) Baker.
Dave’s early life growing up in an Air Force family took him from Colorado to Florida to Paris France to Virginia to Alabama to Long Island, NY to Tokyo, Japan and Hawaii, where he met Charlotte Okula. He then spent a year working on the Alaska pipeline, making money before marrying Charlotte in her hometown in Greenfield, MA.
After their wedding in December 1969, Dave and Charlotte lived in Gainsville, FL where he studied wildlife management and forestry at the University of Florida and Charlotte worked at the University Law Library. Dave also spent several months in Georgia as he worked with a top taxidermist learning that skill. After Dave graduated, they moved to Deer Lodge, Montana where sons Jesse Lee and David Lee were born.
Dave worked operating heavy equipment at a sawmill. They lived in a small house surrounded by the incredibly beautiful mountains and wildlife. Dave enlarged the house himself and kept it heated with their woodburning stove and hunted deer and elk for their freezer. In many ways, these years of hard work, long winters and close friendships in this remote small town with his young family were the happiest years of his life.
After fifteen years Dave and family moved back east to Greenfield, MA. He worked for Merillat making cabinets for a time before working as an extruder for Judd Wire until he retired in 2013. He loved fishing with his sons and sharing with them his knowledge of birds and butterflies.
He and Charlotte enjoyed growing and entering tall sunflowers in the Franklin County Fair. He made wonderful pencil sketches of wildlife and often made unique wooden frames for them, giving them as Christmas gifts. He made outdoor chairs from willow, ash and other woods that he foraged.
Dave “never met a stranger” as they say. Nothing made him happier than being able to help someone far or near. He made many lasting friendships and was a wonderful letter writer always sending interesting stories and encouraging words and never letting a birthday, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas pass without sending a card and note.
Dave was preceded in death by Charlotte, his beloved wife of 47 years.
He is survived by his sons, Jesse Lee and David Lee; granddaughter Kailey; sister Michele; brother Mark; and four nephews.
A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Monday February 23, 2026, at 10AM at Blessed Trinity Parish/Blessed Sacrament Church, 221 Federal St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Greenfield.
A Calling hour will take place on Monday February 23, 2026, from 8:30am-9:30am at the Kostanski Funeral Home, 220 Federal St., Greenfield.
For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.
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