Mr. Leonard Wayne ‘Rusty’ Baker, 68, a resident of Columbia, died Thursday, March 10, 2022 at Maury Regional Medical Center.
Born on September 28, 1953 in Maury County, he was the son of the late Robert Leonard Baker and the late Betty Ruth Brunson Baker.
Mr. Baker started working at Monsanto in 1973 and worked there until they closed after which he bought Jack’s Party Pack. In 1993, he went on to work for the City of Columbia Sanitation Department and then on to the Street Department before retiring. Mr. Baker was an avid Nascar and hot rods fan.
Survivors include his siblings, Brenda Gail Westmoreland of Republic, Missouri, Sherry Lynn (Steve) Carroll, and Bryan Keith “Oop” Baker both of Columbia; nieces and nephews, Stephanie (Jason) Westmoreland of Owen’s Crossroad, Alabama, Callie (Tim) Wilkins of Republic, Missouri, Payton Allen of Columbia and Keely Allen of Cornersville.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his nephews, Brent Westmoreland, Jeremy Allen, and his cousin, Jeff Baker.
Funeral services for Mr. Baker will be conducted Friday at 1:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Joe Westmoreland officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit friends Thursday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Friday from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.
Serving as pallbearers will be Payton Allen, Thomas Brewer, Danny Smith, Johnny Reese, Marshall Brooks, and John Sheffield. Honorary pallbearers will be employees of the City of Columbia, David Ambrose, Zach Baker, and Jason Davis.
For more obituaries visit https://maurycountysource.com/obituaries/
