Barbra Baker-Baylor (1953-2017)
Barbra Baker-Baylor, 64, died Oct. 8, 2017, in Poughkeepsie, surrounded by her children and family.
She was born Aug. 12, 1953 in Beacon to the Revs. Woodrow and Barbara Baker. She spent her career working for Jenny Distinctive Effects, the Southern Dutchess Coalition, UUPATT and BizBeat Entertainment. As a master seamstress, she worked with a host of entertainers such as Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Sade and Prince.
She is survived by her husband, James R. Baylor Sr.; her children James R. Baylor Jr. (Rashida), Micole Y. Cooper, Kyla V. Baylor, Kezia E. Wheeler Baylor, and Daniel E. Nelson (Melanie); her siblings Jennifer McClinton, Woodrow Baker Jr. and Derek Wilson; and her grandchildren Aniyah Stywall, Isis Whitted, Orion Baylor, Irae Whitted, Ke’orah Taylor, Ramani Baylor, Keilani Baylor, Niomi Hart and Gianna Baylor.
In celebration of her life, there will be a musical (all musicians and dancers are welcome) from 5 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 15 at Springfield Baptist Church, 8 Mattie Cooper Square, in Beacon. Visitation will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. on Oct. 16, followed by a service at 11 a.m. at the church with interment at Fishkill Rural Cemetery.
Greg Daw (1949-2017)
Gregory T. Daw, 68, of Poughkeepsie, died unexpectedly at home on Oct. 10, 2017.
Born in Beacon on July 7, 1949, he was the son of Alfred and Marie Daw. After graduating from Beacon High School, he served in the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970 and was awarded the Bronze Star, Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal with Valor for heroism in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force on January 19, 1970.
He worked at IBM for 30 years and held various positions in the World Trade Distribution Center and IBM Poughkeepsie Site Distribution. Greg graduated from Lincoln Technical Institute in Mahwah, New Jersey in 1997 and was the owner of Discount Air Conditioning & Refrigeration until his retirement in 2008.
Greg was a seasonal resident of Lake Worth, Florida, an avid golfer, and proponent of the Walkway Over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie.
Greg is survived by two brothers: Dennis Daw of Ennis, Montanta; and Christopher Daw of Round Rock, Texas.
A committal service with military honors, followed by entombment, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14 in the Community Mausoleum at Fishkill Rural Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign.
Thomas Frederic (1940-2017)
Thomas A. Frederic, 76, of The Villages, Florida, and formerly of Beacon, died Sept. 6, 2017.
Thomas was born Nov. 9, 1940 in Pleasantville, the son of Alfred and Florence (Goldfuss) Frederic. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1958 to 1961 before working for Metro North for 30 years as an engineer. He loved to play golf.
Thomas is survived by his wife, Celeste Urban Frederic of The Villages; his children, Michael Frederic of Beacon, Stephanie Kovalsky (Joseph) of Wappingers Falls; his stepdaughter, Christina Zhen Urban of Manayunk, Philadelphia; his grandchildren, Anthony and Meghan Kovalsky; his brother, Alfred Frederic Jr. (Pat) of Florida; and his sister, Carol Frank (Brad) of Florida.
Services were private. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).
