Dewey Junior Baldwin

Junior Baldwin

Junior Baldwin, 75, of Livonia, MO, passed away at the Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville, MO, on Saturday, November 1, 2014, after a brief battle with cancer.

Dewey Junior Baldwin was born in the Chariton area of Putnam County on December 13, 1938, the son of George Dewey and Grace Fern (Campbell) Baldwin, who preceded him in death. Junior graduated from Livonia High School in 1956 and married Patty Hamilton at the Omaha Baptist Church on March 2, 1957. After living briefly in Des Moines, IA, where he worked for a farmer and then in the state of Washington where they picked apples, Junior and Patty lived in Kansas City where Junior attended mechanics school. Junior then began a life-long career as a mechanic for heavy equipment.

Junior and Patty lived in Putnam County for a number of years where Junior worked as a mechanic for Missouri Mining before that operation closed. They then moved to Springfield, MO, where Junior worked for Masters-Jackson Paving and for Jourangan paving as a mechanic and shop foreman. He retired in 1998 and they moved back to Putnam County. Junior and Bill Moore opened BMB game preserve specializing in field trials for fox hounds. This continued a life-long love of Junior for fox hounds. But even more, the opening of the pen was a way for Junior to share his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Junior was a devoted Christian and godly man. He attended Dale St. United Methodist Church in Springfield where he taught Sunday School for ten years. He also attended Mt. Hermon Church and was a member of Omaha Baptist Church at the time of his passing. He was a gifted Bible teacher who had been chosen to be considered for the deacon ministry at Omaha. Junior was also a wonderful musician who loved to sing and play the guitar and dobra. He especially loved to use his music to serve his Lord. Junior’s kind and gentle spirit was a tremendous influence upon everyone he met.

Junior is survived by his wife, Patty, and by two children: Don Baldwin and wife Crystal of Commerce, GA, and Kayla Dorris and husband Andy of Battlefield, MO. His grandchildren are Brandon Baldwin, Melody Dawn Runnels, Diamond Dorris, Eric Dorris, Louis Dorris, Saranne Lowther, Summer Sisk, and Jacob Baldwin. Seven great grandchildren also survive as well as a brother, Howard Baldwin and wife Glennis and a sister, Louise Mikels and husband Curtis all of Unionville, MO. Junior is also survived by countless fox hounds who thought he was the best friend they could have.

A sister, Mary Martin, preceded Junior in death.

Funeral services for Junior Baldwin will be at Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO, on Wednesday, November 5, 2014, with visitation on Tuesday, November 4, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Internment will be at the St. John Cemetery north of Livonia, MO.

Memorials are suggested to the Omaha Baptist Church Building Fund and may be entrusted with Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565 .