Many of you knew a man named big Ray.
He was larger than life in more than one way.
His wisdom and life experience superceded men of all sizes.
When it came to luck there wasn't much to be had for prizes.
I met Ray as a small child.
My first memory was he saved a bunny from being killed by a haybine on my grandpa's farm in the wild.
To me he was a giant.
Politically speaking Ray wasn't afraid to be defiant.
But he was just a farmer (so you say)
He told me impressive stories of his youth.
One that stands out was he able to bat baseballs onto the high school roof.
Ray could have been a pro football player.
Honestly he could have been anything from an inventor to mayor.
But he was just a farmer (so you say)
As an adult I got the honor of working with Ray.
This allowed us to talk deeper about life in an adult way.
He was truly there for me when nobody in family was not.
His door was always open if I was having a troubling thought.
But he was just a farmer so you would say.
You who are related to him will hopefully have your own cherished stories about Ray.
Conversations were never short.
They could vary of subjects of any sort.
Long before Google there was a man named Ray.
If you asked him a question
He always had something insightful to say..
But he was just a farmer (so you say)
Life was never truly easy for a man named Ray.
Anybody that thinks farming is a lazy man's work or easy
should ask his nephews about stories that probably would make your stomach queazy.
I don't know what I'm supposed to do
When I have questions about life
Or just having a bad day.
He definitely had a way about him that made life better.Words will never describe how deeply he will be missed.
But he was just a farmer (so you say)
At the end of the day
Much more than "just a farmer"
Was a man named Ray Baker"
May his memories live with us forever.
