Published: July 02, 2008 12:23 am         

Obituaries for the week of July 2

Jim Baker



Royse City Police Lieutenant Jim Baker died June 26, 2008, at the age of 59. Lt. Baker was diagnosed in November 2007 with pancreatic cancer which had already spread to his liver. Medical treatment was not successful, and he died in his sleep while at Signature Pointe on the Lake.

Lt. Baker’s friends will remember him for his warmth, sense of humor and devotion to family and friends.

Born and raised in Shreveport, La., Lt. Baker received his B.A. in law enforcement from Northeast Louisiana University and joined the Dallas Police Department as a patrol officer in 1971. At DPD, Lt. Baker served as Sergeant in the Southeast Patrol Division and participated in more than 300 homicide investigations as a homicide/robbery investigator. While at DPD Baker met his wife, Jan, at Northway Baptist Church. They were married 34 years in February. He left DPD in 1980 to become director of the Victim/Witness Division of the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office and later served as corporate director of security for Sunbelt Savings of Texas, where he was responsible for more than 2,500 fraud investigations by the Federal Savings and Loan Task Force. During these years, Lt. Baker’s two sons, Benjamin and Matthew, were born.

Lieutenant Baker went into private practice, owning and operating Baker Technologies, a fraud consulting and investigation firm in Rowlett for 12 years. During that time, Lt. Baker served a term as chair of the Rowlett Chamber of Commerce. While Lt. Baker was in private practice, he welcomed his grandson and namesake, James, to the world. In 2004, he joined the Royse City Police Department where he was responsible for supervising the Criminal Investigation Division.

In addition to his police duties, Lt. Baker was a certified fraud examiner and an adjunct faculty member for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. A popular and sought-after lecturer on fraud examination, Lt. Baker provided training to companies and governmental agencies all over the world, including the FBI, CIA, SEC, World Bank, United Nations and Defense Intelligence Agency, as well as IBM, Coca-Cola USA, EDS and The Boeing Company.

He was also an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Rowlett, where he especially enjoyed the loving fellowship of the Friendship Sunday School Class. Lt. Baker’s wit and sense of humor enriched the lives of all who knew him.

Lt. Baker is survived by his wife; his children: Benjamin Baker and wife Jeri and their son, James Baker, of Plano, and U.S. Army Specialist Matthew Baker of Fort Bragg, N.C.; two brothers: Casey Baker and wife Marion of Shreveport, La., and Chuck Baker and wife Brenda of Alma, Ark.; Jan’s brother, Jack Allison and wife Evelyn of Rowlett; and Jan’s sister, Jo and husband Joe Archer of Carrollton. His nephews and nieces also were very special to him.

The family thanks the doctors and staff at Texas Oncology Dallas, the nursing staff at Presbyterian Hospital’s Jackson Building 2nd Floor, and all the staff at Signature Pointe on the Lake for the loving care provided to Jim and his family.

A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 4405 Main Street, Rowlett, Texas 75088, at 2 p.m., June 2.

Memorial donations may be made to PanCAN 877-272-6226 or The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 560089, Dallas, Texas 75356-0089.



E.H. Cunningham



E.H. Cunningham, devoted husband and father, born July 9, 1921, in Point, to Sadie Jane (Steele) and William R. Cunningham, passed from this life on June 28, 2008.

He leaves behind his daughter, Mary Culberson and husband James of McKinney; daughter Martha D’Amico of Garland; two sons, Bobby Cunningham and wife Casey of Royse City and Buddy Cunningham and wife Cathey of Royse City; grandchildren Russell Looney of Royse City, Tim Culberson and wife Tracy of McKinney, Jeff D’Amico of Royse City, and Kevin Cunningham of Rockwall; Great-grandchildren Libby Looney of Quinlan and Hannah Culberson of McKinney and special nephew Vernon Watts and wife Hazel.

Mr. Cunningham was preceded in death by his loving wife of 56 years, Lona H. (Watts) Cunningham; his beloved children Billy C. Cunningham and Mildred Ann Weaver; his parents; a brother, Arlie Guy; sister Lois Belle; his stepfather, Charles T. Gutherie; and his beloved dog Maggie.

Papa was loved and will be sorely missed by all.

The family will conduct a private service.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

For more information please visit www.resthavenfuneral.com, or visit and sign the guestbook at www.heraldbanner.com.