Longtime Goodland resident James Robert “Jim” Baird, 78, passed away on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, at his home in Goodland.
Jim was born in rural Rawlins County, KS on August 9, 1941, to Bob and Pauline Baird. He attended Brewster schools 1st through 12th grades and graduated in 1959. Jim married Carolyn “Sue” Baird on January 24, 1959, and then moved to Hays, KS where he attended Fort Hays State University and graduated in 1963.
On August 7, 1963, his two twin sons Perry and Larry Baird were born, two days before his 22nd birthday. One year later, the family moved to Bazine, KS where Jim worked for the Farmers Coop for ten years as a bookkeeper. In the summer of 1974, they moved back to the Brewster area and lived on the Floyd Finley farm where Jim had several different jobs including working at the Coop in Brewster, working for farmers and teaching school at the Goodland Christian School. In 1986, he and Sue moved to Ozark, Arkansas where they both worked for Citadel Bible College until the end of 1987, when they then moved to their current home in Goodland. Again Jim worked different jobs including teaching and working for farmers.
Some of his passions were taking trips to camp or on vacation, fishing, spending time with family, listening to Gaither Homecoming videos, shopping at Walmart and working Sudoku puzzles.
Jim put his trust in Jesus to be his Savior in August of 1974 and went on to become a godly man who loved to read his Bible, pray for the needs of others, serve God through church, sharing his faith, taking kids to Bible camp, teaching and giving generously whenever possible, especially in support of missions work. He and Sue made several trips to Mexico to visit their son Larry, his wife Lilia and their family to enjoy family time and encourage them in their ministry endeavors. Jim and Sue also held Bible memory club in their home and later, invested his life in prayer ministry.
While he wasn’t a musician, he loved to sing and enjoyed good music whenever it was played. He liked to watch old movies and tinker in his garage. More recently, he has really enjoyed playing with his great-grandchildren, and over the past few weeks, he was surrounded by his adoring family enjoying sweet fellowship with them. He will be greatly missed, but because of his faith in Jesus Christ, we know he is in heaven with the Lord.
Preceding him in death were his parents Bob and Pauline Baird; his brother Perry Rae Baird, and his sister Dorothy Janette Davis.
Surviving family includes his wife Sue of Goodland; sons Perry (Terry) Baird of Goodland, Larry (Lilia) Baird of Zacatecas, Mexico; grandchildren Benjamin Baird, Katie Holm, Aaron (Liliana) Baird, Julia (Matt) Wahl, Melissa (Alex) Jacobo, and Isaac (Rachel) Baird. He also had 8 great grandchildren; Lucas, Madilynn, Lincoln, Adam, Raea, Ruby, Maleny and Aleia.
To God be the Glory.