Jared M. Baker

Jared Matthew Baker was a fireball of energy and light. Quick-witted and entertaining, he was the life of every party, finding happiness in putting a smile on the faces of family and friends. He would instantly light up a room and people would gravitate to him to bask in the warmth of his smile. Constantly in motion, Jared would go to any length to bring laughter and joy to those that he loved.  Though Jared held nothing back in order to bring happiness to others, no one truly understood the deep hurt that his impish grin masked.

On Friday, October 23, 2020, Jared died at his home. His unexpected loss has been devastating to family and friends.

Jared Matthew Baker was born on October 14,1994 in Kennesaw, Georgia. His parents, Bobby and Charity (Harder) Baker welcomed their youngest child and only son to their family with so much joy. His arrival completed their family and his older sisters, Rachel and Leah were overjoyed to have a new sibling to join in their adventures and become a convenient fall guy when caught being mischievous. As a young boy growing up outside Atlanta, Jared was a true Braves fan, watching games and discussing stats with his father, with a passion and knowledge that was beyond his years. Jared wasn’t content to contain that love to only being a spectator and he played almost every position on the field with his entire heart. His childhood is best remembered in a mental snapshot of Jared, dressed in his uniform, Georgia clay ground into his pants after throwing himself whole heartedly into the game. His ball cap pulled down low, a sheen of sweat and dust blurring his freckles and a continually pink tipped nose from a sunburn that no amount of sunscreen could prevent. But that picture wouldn’t be complete without remembering his quicksilver grin.

As a young teen, the family relocated to Florida. Jared didn’t let distance stop his love for his favorite team and he followed the Braves his whole life. He traded his baseball cap for a skater’s cap and soon spent every free moment conquering hairpin 180 flips, gravity-defying ollies and mastering the world of vert skateboarding. Jared wasn’t content to just be a fearless athlete, he also brought that same passion for success into the classroom. Never satisfied with the mediocre, Jared graduated from Riverview High School, fourth in his class. Few people who witnessed his drive would have realized that Jared had suffered the devastating loss of his father, a few years after moving to Florida. Jared went on to attend UCF and later, UNF intending to become an engineer upon graduation. The pressures of a strenuous college schedule weighed heavily on him and his continual striving for excellence. He began to struggle with the stress and fought his own inner battle to find the same joy on the inside that he so easily showed the world. The loss of his beloved sister and best friend, Leah, earlier this year left Jared emotionally shattered.

Jared is survived by his beloved mother, Charity Baker and his sister, Rachel Baker. His maternal grandfather, David McClure and family. His maternal grandparents, John and Shirley Hancock. His paternal grandparents, Nathan and Patti Woosley. Jared’s loss is also mourned by his many aunts, uncles and cousins who will forever miss his bright smile. Jared is preceded in death by his father, Bobby Baker, his uncle, Stephen Baker, and his sister, Leah Baker.

A graveside service will be held at Jacksonville Memory Gardens at 111 Blanding Blvd in Orange Park, Florida on Saturday, October 31, 2020 at 11:00 a.m.