Jonathan Baker
Jonathan was born in Tallassee, Alabama, the son of the late William Clyde Baker and Vivian McLain Baker. His parents, Bill and Vivian, met at Auburn University, where Bill was in Building Construction and Vivian was one of Auburn’s first female Architecture students.
Jonathan inherited both his parents’ love of design, building, and creative endeavors. He met and married the love of his life, Lee Harrison, while studying graphic design together at Auburn, and together they forged a life and career in advertising, marketing, and communications. They opened their firm, Baker & Baker Design, Inc., in Huntsville in 1985. As the firm grew, they brought in a partner, Craig Woodward from Guntersville, who was key to the future growth of the agency, now known as BakerWoodward Communications, Inc. Along with their talented staff, they produced many award-winning branding and marketing campaigns in the Tennessee Valley, including logos, TV and radio commercials, billboards, websites, digital and social media. In addition to being a graphic designer, Jon was an excellent photographer and handled much of the agency’s photoshoots. Over the past thirty-plus years, Jonathan and his firm worked with a wide range of clients, including Huntsville Hospital, Kappler, Inc., The Heart Center, First Community Medicare Supplement, Cash Acme (SharkBite), Dunagan, Yates and Alison, The Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville Pilgrimage Association, Bennett Nurseries, Lyn’s Gracious Goodness, SouthBank, Renasant Bank, Citizens Bank, Athens-Limestone Hospital, WBHP Radio, Gray Analytics, TriVector, Spine & Neuro, Lake Guntersville, and the City of Arab, among many others. Jonathan had an innate ability to see the big picture, to solve problems, and to think deeply about life and the people he cared about.
Jonathan always wanted a family, and after 19 years of marriage, God blessed him and Lee with their most precious gift of all—their beautiful daughter, Jordan. Lee often said that Jon was a better “Moma” than she was, as he jumped headfirst into fixing formula, diapering, rocking, and holding his sweet Jordan. Jonathan embraced fatherhood with joy and devotion, cherishing every moment with his daughter. He was overjoyed when Jordan married Troy Sutherland, the love of her life, because Troy embodied every quality that Jon held dear for his daughter and became the son he’d always hoped for.
Jonathan’s greatest passion was fishing the Current River in Van Buren, Missouri, where he and Lee spent many wonderful days at their Ozark cabin, exploring and fishing for small mouth bass and welcoming friends to his “Happy Place.” He also loved his beach trips to Sunnyside Beach, Florida with their dear friends, George and Susan Foozer.
Jonathan loved the Lord so when he and Lee joined Whitesburg Baptist Church, they knew they had found their church home. Jon especially enjoyed his Tuesday morning Men’s Prayer Breakfast, where he made treasured friendships. His Life Group also gave him the opportunity to study, and learn more about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Even though Jon’s health declined in the past few years, his life has been blessed beyond measure, and his legacy of kindness and love will live on through his daughter and grandchildren.
Jonathan is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Lee; daughter, Jordan Sutherland (Troy); two grandchildren, Emilia Lee and Charles Troy, whom he adored; brother-in-law, Kim Harrison of Macon, Georgia; sister-in-law, Debby Baker of Carthage, Missouri; cousins, Melanie Barry of Auburn, Jay Fomby (Sue) and Wimberley McLain Watts (John) of Huntsville; and his uncle, Joe McLain (Debra) both of Tallassee, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his mother, Vivian, of Joplin, Missouri and father, Bill, stepmother, Delores and two half-brothers, Mike and Mark Baker of Carthage, Missouri.
Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 18, at the Chapel of Whitesburg Baptist Church, located on the South Campus ROC, 7300 Whitesburg Drive, with a memorial service immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Whitesburg Baptist Church Building Fund or Children’s Ministry.
