Dr. Wilbur Kermit Baker II - December 5, 1934 - April 20, 2020
Kermit Baker was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 5, 1934, during the middle of the Great Depression to Dr. Wilbur Kermit Baker and Marian Elizabeth Hansen Baker. In 1935 the family moved to Poteau, OK where his father opened a dental practice.
Kermit was graduated from Poteau High School in 1953 and went to the University of Oklahoma, earning a bachelor's degree in zoology in 1956, then pursued a medical degree at the OU School of Medicine. He interned at the University of Kansas in 1961 and did his residence at the University of Missouri in 1965.
From 1965 to 1967 he served in the U.S. Air Force at McConnell Air Force base in Wichita, Kansas, as chief of surgery. He went into private practice as a general surgeon in Muskogee from 1967-1987, as well as serving as Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the OU Medical School in 1975-76. He completed his career at the Veteran's Hospital in Fayetteville, Ark., while also serving as Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery
for the Medical School at the University of Arkansas.
In 1991-92, he was awarded Teacher of the Year by the AHEC Family Practice Residency Program of Fayetteville.
His career included serving on several medical societies and authoring three published papers on General Intestinal Medicine. He served for a time as president of the Muskogee County Medical Society, Chief of Staff at Muskogee Regional Hospital and served as Chairman of the hospital's surgery department. He was a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma State Medical Association.
Dr. Baker was a Toastmaster and enjoyed public speaking. A private pilot, he logged 1400 hours in flight and was an Aviation Medical Examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration for 16 years. Also an inventor, he held two patents on medical and electronic devices.
Dr. Baker is survived by his wife, Coralie Baker and four daughters: Kathy Davis, Susan McAuliff, Jennifer Baker and Laura Stanton, fourteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. One daughter, Beth Bird, preceded him in death.
A funeral Mass was held on Saturday, April 25, 2020, at Immaculate Conception Church in Poteau, and burial followed in Oakland Cemetery in Poteau. Because of the Covid-19 restrictions, attendance was limited to a very few close family members.
Msgr. Patrick Gaalaas, a friend of the Bakers from his time as pastor at IC, officiated, along with Father Jim Caldwell Jr. The Baker family continued to quietly support their former parish financially for many years in keeping with their fond memories of their time in Poteau.
Kermit was graduated from Poteau High School in 1953 and went to the University of Oklahoma, earning a bachelor's degree in zoology in 1956, then pursued a medical degree at the OU School of Medicine. He interned at the University of Kansas in 1961 and did his residence at the University of Missouri in 1965.
From 1965 to 1967 he served in the U.S. Air Force at McConnell Air Force base in Wichita, Kansas, as chief of surgery. He went into private practice as a general surgeon in Muskogee from 1967-1987, as well as serving as Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the OU Medical School in 1975-76. He completed his career at the Veteran's Hospital in Fayetteville, Ark., while also serving as Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery
for the Medical School at the University of Arkansas.
In 1991-92, he was awarded Teacher of the Year by the AHEC Family Practice Residency Program of Fayetteville.
His career included serving on several medical societies and authoring three published papers on General Intestinal Medicine. He served for a time as president of the Muskogee County Medical Society, Chief of Staff at Muskogee Regional Hospital and served as Chairman of the hospital's surgery department. He was a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma State Medical Association.
Dr. Baker was a Toastmaster and enjoyed public speaking. A private pilot, he logged 1400 hours in flight and was an Aviation Medical Examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration for 16 years. Also an inventor, he held two patents on medical and electronic devices.
Dr. Baker is survived by his wife, Coralie Baker and four daughters: Kathy Davis, Susan McAuliff, Jennifer Baker and Laura Stanton, fourteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. One daughter, Beth Bird, preceded him in death.
A funeral Mass was held on Saturday, April 25, 2020, at Immaculate Conception Church in Poteau, and burial followed in Oakland Cemetery in Poteau. Because of the Covid-19 restrictions, attendance was limited to a very few close family members.
Msgr. Patrick Gaalaas, a friend of the Bakers from his time as pastor at IC, officiated, along with Father Jim Caldwell Jr. The Baker family continued to quietly support their former parish financially for many years in keeping with their fond memories of their time in Poteau.