In August, John Baker would have celebrated his 37th year as a Butler Eagle advertising executive. Instead, “Bake” has left a long trail of grieving family, friends, co-workers and downtown Butler clients to tend to his memory.

Baker, 61, died Tuesday, Dec. 13, at Good Samaritan Hospice at Concordia after a short battle with an unexpected and unrelenting illness.

He was hired at the Butler Eagle in 1986, and sold ads to scores of business owners in downtown Butler over the years.

Jim Chiprean, co-owner of Miller’s Shoes on South Main Street, said Baker was more than well-known on Main.

“He was a stalwart of the downtown, chasing ads here and there,” Chiprean said.

He said it was impossible to resist becoming a good friend of the personable and amusing ad rep.

“Our business personalities meshed well,” Chiprean said. “We enjoyed golfing together and other activities.”

He said Baker put his money where his mouth is, as the athletic ad rep always patronized Miller’s for his footwear.

“He sure could play golf, and I admired his running abilities,” Chiprean said. “He burned through many, many, many pairs of top running shoes of the day.

“We are definitely going to miss him.”

Jim Ellis, owner of Serventi’s on the Runway and Ellis Automotive, also was unable to maintain just a business relationship with the affable Baker.

“We got to be pretty good friends over the last few years,” Ellis said. “He wasn’t just my salesman. He was my buddy.”

Ellis said he will not forget Baker’s razor-sharp sense of humor.

“We ribbed each other all the time,” Ellis said.

As his friend and ad salesman, Ellis said Baker was always straightforward and honest.

“If he told you something, it was true,” Ellis said. “He went above and beyond for me in so many different ways.”

Ellis said he golfed with Baker a few times per summer, and always had a great time.

“We are going to miss him tremendously,” he said.

Ellis said in more recent conversations, Baker had talked about working a few more years before retiring from the Eagle.

“He said he loved what he did,” Ellis recalled.

Keith Graham, vice president of advertising at the Eagle, joined everyone in the office and especially Baker’s advertising co-workers in sadness when it became clear that he would not survive his illness.

“John Baker was one of the good guys,” Graham said. “He never had a bad word to say about anyone or anything.”

He said Baker showed up for work each day with a positive attitude and sharp wit that truly made a difference to his co-workers.

“John built incredibly strong relationships with his advertising clients, and many of them became his close, personal friends,” Graham said. “He will be greatly missed by all.”

Another of Baker’s longtime clients that became a trusted friend was Lee McDonald, owner of R.W. McDonald and Sons appliances and furniture.

“When I think of John, I think of loyalty, concern, and looking out for my best interests as well as that of the store,” McDonald said.

When Baker felt a certain ad campaign would benefit McDonald’s business, he called or visited right away to share it, McDonald said.

Like Chiprean, Baker handled McDonald’s advertising in the Eagle for all of his 36 years with the company.

McDonald summed up the thoughts of everyone who worked with, played against or loved John Baker.

“He will be absolutely missed,” McDonald said. “No one will ever be able to fill his shoes.”

Baker, a Butler Township resident, is survived by his wife, Patricia Baker, and his daughter, Rachelle Baker.

Family and friends of Baker will be received from 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Spencer D. Geibel Funeral Home, 140 New Castle Road, Butler.