Tracy Laverne Baker, 75, of Ottumwa, died at 1:51 a.m. February 26, 2026 at home.
He was born May 22, 1950 in Bloomfield to Oliver Lavern and Mildred Marie Bolin Baker.
He married Joan Holmes from Fairfield at Free Methodist Church on November 29, 1980 and they renewed their vows November 22, 2025 at their home.
He was a 1968 graduate from Davis County High School in Bloomfield. Tracy worked with his dad building fences, and also did yard work for Walter and Marie Johnson. He had also worked for Jerry Wood, Wapello County Courthouse, JCPenney’s, and at North and South Hy-Vee for 43 years.
He enjoyed traveling with Joan to Las Vegas, especially their 2 trips to London, England to Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee celebration. Tracy especially enjoyed trips to Winterset to John Wayne’s birthday celebrations each May, in which he could also see all of the friends he and Joan made throughout those trips. Tracy enjoyed working and doing things on the family farm and visiting with the neighbors out there. He also enjoyed watching westerns on TV.
Surviving is his wife, Joan; 2 sisters, Trudy Major, Tammy Deevers both of Albia; brothers-in-law, Richard Cox, Jon Moore and John Rusk; several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; sisters, Treva Cox and Tess Moore; a nephew, Toby Cox; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Ben (Maxine) Holmes; brothers-in-law, Robert Major, and Roger Holmes; and a sister-in-law, Charlotte Rusk.
Visitation will be open 10 a.m. Thursday March 5th at Reece Funeral Home with family present to greet friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Funeral services will be 3 p.m. Friday March 6th at Reece Funeral Home with Kam Reeves officiating. Cremation will follow the service. Inurnment will be at a later date in Drakesville, Iowa.
Memorials may be made to Care Initiatives Hospice in Albia or the John Wayne Birthplace Museum of Winterset, IA.
