Corey James Baker

June 14, 1978 - July 27, 2021

“Gone way too young, my Cajun friend”—a quote by Danny Brinkley Sr of American Legion Post in 343 Redfield , Arkansas where Corey relocated in the fall of 2019 to open a Spring Market-part of the Brookshires Grocery Chain. Just like in Abbeville as manager of Super 1, and Iowa and Lake Arthur as store director of their Spring Markets he connected with the community through acts of service.
Wherever he went people just couldn’t help but fall in love with him.
He deeply and genuinely loved people and lived to help any way he could. A 1996 graduate of Abbeville High School he attended Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana then returned home to marry the love of his life that he now leaves behind, Jessie Gooch with their five children - Whitney, Christian, Caleb, Ruth, and Alice. In 1992 they met at church in the youth group and have had 29 years of being best friends. Jesus, family, and a job well done were priorities for him. The children were his pride and joy. He coached them when they played softball, became a scout leader, played airsoft, paintball, board games, x-box, whatever they were into, so was Corey—maybe just a yoyo but there were moves to be conquered!! He encouraged good hearted competition teaching them to win or lose with dignity. And most of all, he taught them by example that The Word Of God is truth. Taking God at His word and trusting what He has said gives us confidence of Corey’s citizenship now in Heaven.
Corey’s intrinsic love of family perhaps comes from being the baby in a large Cajun family (Choate) from Abbeville and the only son of Al Baker from Pineville in Louisiana. He is preceded in death by his parents Al and Glenda (Choate Redwing) Baker sister Shannon Redwing,
Cousin Ryan Davidson. Maternal grandparents James and Jeanny (Leblanc) Choate, paternal grandparents
Alton Wiley Baker, Sr. And Julia Maureen (Houston) Baker, aunt Rose Baker, uncle Austin Baker. And in-law Donald Gooch.
Surviving relatives include two brothers Shane Redwing (Sarah) and Clint Redwing; four aunts Darlene (Choate) Gachassin of Broussard , La; Gaynelle (Choate) Sherman of Sulphur, Marilyn (Choate) Davidson (Terry)of Abbeville; Ann (Baker) Webster(Tom) of Pineville, Two uncles Jim Choate (Bonnie) Abbeville, Donni Choate (Jodi)of Abbeville. His in laws Jack and Terry (Gooch) Gullick of Erath, Jenn Gooch of Pittsburg, Pa, Jonathan Gooch(Victoria) of Youngsville.
Cousins abound in Cen-La and Acadiana and every one was special to Corey and So many people in his life were considered family even if not kin. Whether or not you knew it Corey was probably praying for you.
Thank you all who were praying for his recovery. We grieve together.