Obituary for Jack Sidney Baber
Jack Sidney Baber, Tyler, June 6, 1927-January 16, 2023
Jack was born in Brownsville, Texas on June 6, 1927 to Judge Lester Baber (Les) and Nana Louis Stokes Baber; while Les was working on a construction job. Shortly after Jack's birth the family moved back to Winnsboro. Jack graduated from Winnsboro High School in 1944. After graduation, Jack went to work in the oil fields of West Texas and Oklahoma. He served in the Army from 1945-46 and returned to Winnsboro after he was Honorably Discharged. He worked on construction jobs and attended Kilgore Junior College for the next several years.
In May of 1950, Jack married Audrey Laverne Saxon (Laverne) ; the couple would be united in marriage for seventy years. Shortly after his marriage Jack bought the Sinclair oil dealership and began to sell petroleum products in the local area. During his time with Sinclair he learned about oil treating chemicals and began to sell them in the oil fields surrounding Winnsboro. In the early 1960s, Jack sold the Sinclair dealership and began his own business Jack Baber Oil & Chemicals; he continued this company until he retired in 1989.
Shortly after retirement, Jack and Laverne moved to Mineola and lived there for thirteen years. After that the couple moved to Tyler where they spent the last twenty years of their lives. Both Jack and Laverne referred to these as the happy years of their life due to the arrival of their grandsons Grant and Avery. Jack used to tease me and say, you know if I could have figured out how to have grandkids first; I think I would have had them and been done with it. After Laverne's death on September 2, 2020, Jack lived with his son and daughter-in-law, and grandchildren; except for a brief period near the end of his life when he required extra care.
Jack had a full and productive life, he enjoyed bird hunting, dogs and cats, working on any type of car or truck; and above all anything involving his grandsons. He was preceded in death by many friends and leaves many friends behind that will miss his warm and caring personality.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Laverne; brothers Bill (Will T.) Baber; Bob (Robert H.) Baber, and Joe Baber; and sister Frances Alice Arrington. He is survived by his son Brian Saxon Baber, his wife Janice Inell Baber, grandsons Grant Baber and Avery Baber; nephews Ben Arrington and his wife Darlene; Jeff Baber and his wife Marlene; nieces Alice Arrington Newsome, Rivkah Cohen, and Sue Baber. Cousins James Kell Patrick and John Patrick.
The family will receive friends at Beaty Funeral Home in Winnsboro on Friday, January 27th from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. and the graveside will follow at 3:00 p.m. in Lee Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Ben Arrington, John Patrick, Darin Baber, Grant Baber, and Avery Baber. Honorary Pallbearers are James Kell Patrick and Gene Shuttlesworth.
Jack was born in Brownsville, Texas on June 6, 1927 to Judge Lester Baber (Les) and Nana Louis Stokes Baber; while Les was working on a construction job. Shortly after Jack's birth the family moved back to Winnsboro. Jack graduated from Winnsboro High School in 1944. After graduation, Jack went to work in the oil fields of West Texas and Oklahoma. He served in the Army from 1945-46 and returned to Winnsboro after he was Honorably Discharged. He worked on construction jobs and attended Kilgore Junior College for the next several years.
In May of 1950, Jack married Audrey Laverne Saxon (Laverne) ; the couple would be united in marriage for seventy years. Shortly after his marriage Jack bought the Sinclair oil dealership and began to sell petroleum products in the local area. During his time with Sinclair he learned about oil treating chemicals and began to sell them in the oil fields surrounding Winnsboro. In the early 1960s, Jack sold the Sinclair dealership and began his own business Jack Baber Oil & Chemicals; he continued this company until he retired in 1989.
Shortly after retirement, Jack and Laverne moved to Mineola and lived there for thirteen years. After that the couple moved to Tyler where they spent the last twenty years of their lives. Both Jack and Laverne referred to these as the happy years of their life due to the arrival of their grandsons Grant and Avery. Jack used to tease me and say, you know if I could have figured out how to have grandkids first; I think I would have had them and been done with it. After Laverne's death on September 2, 2020, Jack lived with his son and daughter-in-law, and grandchildren; except for a brief period near the end of his life when he required extra care.
Jack had a full and productive life, he enjoyed bird hunting, dogs and cats, working on any type of car or truck; and above all anything involving his grandsons. He was preceded in death by many friends and leaves many friends behind that will miss his warm and caring personality.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Laverne; brothers Bill (Will T.) Baber; Bob (Robert H.) Baber, and Joe Baber; and sister Frances Alice Arrington. He is survived by his son Brian Saxon Baber, his wife Janice Inell Baber, grandsons Grant Baber and Avery Baber; nephews Ben Arrington and his wife Darlene; Jeff Baber and his wife Marlene; nieces Alice Arrington Newsome, Rivkah Cohen, and Sue Baber. Cousins James Kell Patrick and John Patrick.
The family will receive friends at Beaty Funeral Home in Winnsboro on Friday, January 27th from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. and the graveside will follow at 3:00 p.m. in Lee Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Ben Arrington, John Patrick, Darin Baber, Grant Baber, and Avery Baber. Honorary Pallbearers are James Kell Patrick and Gene Shuttlesworth.