Obituary of Richard William Baird

May 13, 1942 - Regina, Saskatchewan

December 5, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

Richard William Baird of Calgary, AB, passed away Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at the age of 81 years.

Richard, known as Dick to most, was born in Regina, SK, on May 13, 1942. He moved to Horse Head, SK, as a teenager in 1957 with his family, where he helped on the family farm until he left for Moose Jaw, SK, to work. He married Sandra Emerson in 1964 when he was twenty-two years old.

Dick’s varied employment history included: load-out operator in the Kalium Chemicals potash mine, Belle Plain, SK, truck driving and then mechanics with ATCO in Calgary, AB. He loved boating, fishing, rodeo as a spectator, and cooking. His favourite vacation was in Hawaii with his brother Ken.

Dick is survived by his second wife, Patty Baird (nee Billings); three sons, Blaine Baird (Jeanette) of Surrey, BC, Scott Baird (Lisa) of Surrey, BC, and Richard (Ricky) Baird of Campbell River BC; nine grandchildren, Shannon Baird (Earl Picardal) of Surrey, BC, Christopher Baird of Surrey, BC, Mary Neil of Surrey, BC, Bradie, and Ethan Baird of Calgary, AB, Wesley Tyler Baird of Surrey, BC, Holly Dentry of Surrey, BC, and Daniel and Brittany Kinder of Calgary, AB; two great-grandchildren, Alicia Baird of Surrey, BC, and Ariana Baird of Surrey, BC; siblings, Carol Gardiner (Wayne) of Sherwood Park, AB, Julie Friesen of Imperial, SK, Donna McCrimmon (Don) of Warman, SK, Marvin Baird of Calgary, AB, Aileen Salomon (Chris) of Red Deer, AB, and Verna Zotzman of Edmonton, AB; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, friends and all the special staff who cared for him at the Bethany Riverview Care Home in Calgary.

Dick was predeceased by his father William Albert Baird (1968), mother Edna May Baird (nee Cavanaugh - 1945), stepmother Edith Clarice Brooker Baird (nee Hill - 2017), first wife Sandra Baird (nee Emerson - 2019), sister Elsie May Seida (nee Baird - 2018), brother Raymond Kenneth Baird (2010), sons, Dwayne Baird (1967), Jason Baird (2005), and Kevin Baird (2022); and daughter Heather Baird (2023).

A Celebration of Dick’s Life is tentatively planned for Monday, May 13, 2024, in Calgary with burial to follow in the Eatonia Cemetery (219 Railway Ave. Eatonia, SK, S0L 0Y0).

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Dick's family here.

In living memory of Dick Baird, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Eastside, 5388 Memorial Drive NE, Calgary, AB T2A 3V9, Telephone: 403-248-8585.