Norton Baker (Lubbock)
William Norton Baker, beloved husband of Jane Minkley Baker, loving father to Richard and Elizabeth, and cherished grandfather to Lauren, Ryan, and Baxter, passed away on July 10 in Lubbock, Texas. Family and friends are invited to share his committal service at Lockney Memorial Cemetery in Lockney, Texas, on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 10:00 AM. A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 2:00 PM at First United Methodist Church in Lubbock, Texas. A visitation will be held at Sanders Funeral Home on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Norton was born February 6, 1935, in Plainview, Texas, to Wanda Stinebaugh Baker and William Dorsey Baker. After graduating from Lockney High School in 1953, Norton enjoyed serving as class president and kept the class engaged for many years. He attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where he was a Phi Delta Theta fraternity member and graduated in 1956, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. While attending SMU School of Law, he met and married Joan Jacobs. After earning his J.D. at SMU, Norton served in the United States Army at Ford Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Fort Ord in Monterey, California. After his Army service, he returned to Dallas, Texas as a tax researcher at Peat, Marwick & Mitchell and welcomed his son, Richard in November. In 1961, Norton received his CPA license and was called back to service in the U.S. Army stationed in Fort Polk, Louisiana. Following his second service, he retired from the U.S. Army as a Captain, JAGC.
Norton, Joan, and Richard moved from Dallas to Lubbock in 1961. Joining Edward R. Smith at his law firm in August 1962, Norton and Edward began practicing at Smith and Baker Attorneys at Law, specializing in estate planning, probate, and tax law. In October 1963, the family welcomed Elizabeth to the family, and they moved to their longtime home on 20th Street.
Norton was actively involved in the Lubbock community and took a special interest in banking and education. He was a director at Security National Bank, Lubbock National Bank, and Plains Capital Bank. As a dedicated member and chairman of the board of All Saints Episcopal School of Lubbock, he led them to the completion of their first permanent building. In addition, Norton served on the board of Methodist Hospital in Lubbock; member and chairman of the Board of Trustees at McMurry University in Abilene; member of the board of Carillon, Inc; chairman of the J.T. and Margaret Talkington Foundation; member and chairman of the Children’s Home of Lubbock Foundation until resigning in May 2022. Norton retired from Baker, Brown & Thompson law firm in 2019.
Norton was a devoted First United Methodist Church member, enjoying weekly Sunday school classes, Disciple Class, and Sunday morning services. Formerly a member of First Presbyterian Church, he served as elder and deacon.
Norton met Jane Minkley, and they married in March 1998. Sharing their love and passion for travel, they explored the world together. Always planning the next adventure, Norton loved traveling with Jane, his children, and grandchildren, sharing annual trips to Carmel, California, and treating them to educational trips across the USA and Europe, including visiting most of the Presidential Libraries. Sharing time with friends via travel was important to Norton; he annually visited a monastery in Vermont and traveled to Israel with a group led by Saint George’s College. A devoted Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s and women’s basketball fan, he cheered the Lady Raiders as they captured the NCAA National Women’s Championship in 1993.
Norton had a true heart for helping others. He was a source of wisdom and will be remembered for his devotion to his family, friends, and clients. One of Norton’s greatest sources of pride was his children and grandchildren, encouraging their hard work and education. Family time was of the utmost importance to Norton; he made every effort to attend all three grandchildren’s events and celebrate their accomplishments. When business or doctor appointments brought him to Dallas, he reserved time to share with his loved ones. He cherished time spent with his family and friends over material belongings. He loved to read, spending time each day reading the newspaper, spiritual, self-improvement, and biographical books. Like his mother, he loved playing bridge. Norton was a servant of his God and humankind; he remained positive even when struggling with illness.
On a small handwritten note, date unknown, Norton listed his goals for life: Keep up with the times and change for it; work on your spiritual life, health, friendships, and relationships; be a listener; anything you do to build up yourself is love; to build up the other person is gain; humility is good; pride and ego get you in trouble.
Norton is survived in death by his wife, Jane; his son Richard and wife, Debby; his daughter Elizabeth Baker Perry-Miller; Joan Baker, mother of Richard and Elizabeth; three grandchildren, Lauren Baker Cook and husband Dillon, Ryan Baker and Baxter Baker Perry-Miller all of Dallas; two stepsons, Mark Minkley of New York City and David Minkley of Lubbock; his brother, Dorsey Lynn and sister-in-law, Charlyne of Lubbock; two nieces, Stacey Baker of Oakland, California and Kari Baker Steinhaus and husband, Chuck of Lubbock and their children, Paul, Mariah, Joshua, and James.
