Steven Ray Baker, 77, of Kings Mountain, NC, passed away on September 23, 2025 at Atrium Health Cleveland in Shelby, NC. Born October 13, 1947 in Lincoln County, NC, Steve was the son of the late Charles Ray Baker, Sr. and Betty Jean Bondurant Baker Mercier. He was also preceded in death by his sister Mitzi Jean Baker and niece Anna Mercier Bowman. Steve was a proud graduate of Kings Mountain High School and was inducted into the Kings Mountain Sports Hall of Fame for his contributions to historically successful Mountaineer Football teams. He married his sweetheart Joan King on August 18, 1968 and graduated from Pfeiffer College the following year. What followed was an illustrious and diversified career, including time spent as an executive with the New York Life Insurance Company, but he is perhaps best remembered as a longtime and beloved teacher. Students at Kings Mountain High School had the pleasure of taking courses in Social Studies and History from Steve, but his instruction and mentorship was not limited to the classroom. Always civic-minded and looking for ways to help his beloved Kings Mountain, Steve also served as a football coach at KMHS and founded the Kings Mountain chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was often invited back to Pfeiffer College for alumni activities and other special events and remained an active contributor. He also taught Sunday School for many years. Steve was a friend to everyone, an exemplary tribute to an encouraging spirit, and a great mentor to many. He leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered fondly by his loving family and a grateful community for years to come.

Steve is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joan King Baker, siblings Charles Ray Baker, Jr. (Virginia Gaither Herndon) of Portland, OR and Mimi Mercier Bowman (Jack Jackson) of Kings Mountain, step-siblings Wayne Richard Mercier (Tammy) of Daytona Beach, FL, Susan Mercier Canipe (Richard) of Gastonia, NC, Douglas Raymond Mercier (Wendy) of Mt. Pleasant, TX, and Mark Wallace Mercier (Jodi) of Asheville, NC, nieces and nephews Garth Herndon Baker, Kaki Bowman Shatsoff (Ben), Charlotte Lucy Herndon Baker, and Billy Floyd King, Jr., great-nieces Imogen Ray Baker and Sadie Erika Shatsoff, and numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins, and family members.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Friday, September 26, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. in the Ollie Harris Memorial Chapel with Rev. John Bridges officiating

VISITATION: Friday, September 26, 2025, prior to the service from 10:00 to 10:50 A.M. in the Parlor of Harris Funeral Home

INTERMENT: A private interment ceremony will be held graveside at Mountain Rest Cemetery in Kings Mountain, North Carolina

MEMORIALS: Donations in Steve's memory may be made to a charity of the donor's choice

GUEST REGISTER AVAILABLE AT WWW.HARRISFUNERALS.COM

ARRANGEMENTS: HARRIS FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA