More detail on this person: Firmin J. Baye,
Jr., January 19, 1931_July 6, 2016.
The family of Firmin Baye announces his arrival to
a far better place. He was born 85 years ago in
the family home in Groves, Texas_the only son in a
family of nine. Throughout his life he earned a
reputation for being generous, loyal, humble, and
for having a keen sense of humor. He spent his
early years shining shoes, mowing grass for
neighbors, and later, working at a gas station and
a golf course in the hot Texas sun. Prime among
his passions was music, and as a child he earned
admission into movie theaters by playing his
harmonica to open the show. He spent the
remainder of his younger years practicing the
clarinet and earning the rank of Life Scout.
Ultimately, Firmin's love for music introduced him
to the true love of his life_Jaynet_who played the
marimba in the Port Neches-Groves High School
Band. Firmin and Jaynet were married at the
budding ages of 18 and 17, and enjoyed 66 years
together as husband and wife. They established
homes in many states (including Alabama,
Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas), foreign countries
and U.S. Territories (including Japan, Germany,
and Guam in the South Pacific). His travels, many
with Jaynet, also included more exotic
destinations around the globe (such as Panama,
Costa Rica, Kenya, Israel, and Nepal) that are
marked with 142 "pins" on a map kept downstairs in
their Lake LBJ residence.
Firmin joined the U.S. Army in 1948, and earned
the rank of Sergeant after one year of service. He
served as a member of the Army Band, with tours in
Guam, Japan, Oklahoma, and ultimately as a
student at the Naval School of Music in
Washington, DC. There, he learned to play every
instrument in the band_a skill that he enjoyed
sharing with others throughout his life.
Shortly thereafter_having observed pilots flying
overhead wearing sunglasses and dangling feet over
the hot drill fields where he marched with the
band_he changed careers and was accepted as a
student at helicopter school in Fort Rucker,
Alabama. Upon graduation, he was asked to serve
as an instructor and later became the first
Warrant Officer in the Army to become instrument
certified in a helicopter. He served as an
instructor pilot in the CH-34, OH-6, and the UH-1
helicopters. He was also an "instrument flight
examiner" in helicopters_the highest instructor
rating one could achieve in the Army.
As an Army pilot, Firmin's orders took him to
places including Colorado (where he flew VIPs and
used his mountain flying skills to rescue victims
of avalanches), Korea (where he received an award
from the Prime Minister of South Korea for saving
the lives of thousands of Koreans from a flood),
and ultimately to Vietnam in 1965 (where he
received 30 Air Medals and a Bronze Star for Valor
while serving as a Medevac Pilot).
After his tour in Vietnam, Firmin and his family
moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he served as a
Presidential pilot for Lyndon Baines Johnson. His
outfit was responsible for flying the President on
all helicopter flight details west of the
Mississippi River. Additionally, he flew the
President during several overseas trips_including
a Christmas Eve landing in the Vatican in which
Firmin used a post-card for navigation.
After his retirement from the Army in 1968, Firmin
moved his family to Sunrise Beach, Texas, where
he flew LBJ as a private pilot through his
employment with Arthur B. Krim. Following the
death of President Johnson, Firmin worked as the
manager and foreman of Krim's Santana Ranch. For
almost 50 years following his retirement from the
Army, he served the community in volunteer
capacities ranging from Fire Chief (for the
Sunrise Beach VFD) to organist, music director and
Deacon for local churches. His generosity,
humility, infectious laugh, and sense of humor
will be missed by all who knew him.
Firmin is preceded in death by his parents and his
sisters Alberta, Elma, Ethel, Joyce, and Rebecca.
He is survived by his sister Elaine Hamilton, his
wife Jaynet, his son Michael and daughter-in-law,
M'Lissa, and his grandchildren Natalie and
Mitchell. Firmin is also survived by his loving
brothers- and sisters- in-law, Helen & Bruce
Dement and Sam & Gail Showalter, and a number
of nephews and nieces in Texas and Louisiana.
An Open House to celebrate Firmin J. Baye's life
well-lived is planned for Saturday, September 3,
2016 in Sunrise Beach. In lieu of flowers or
cards, the family asks that you demonstrate
Firmin-like generosity by helping a person or
charitable organization that is in need. An Online
guest registry may be signed at
www.PutnamCares.com
Cremation arrangements made by Putnam Funeral
Home and Crematory, 145 Texas Avenue,
Kingsland, Texas 78639. (325) 388-0008
This information was last updated 12/11/2016
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Date posted on this site: 04/13/2025
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