Thomas B. (Tom) Baird, of Searcy, Arkansas, passed into eternal life on Thursday, June 9, 2022 at the age of 92. He was born in Williford, Arkansas on January 30, 1930 to the late Casus C. and Ethel (Bottoms) Baird. On July 25, 1952 he married Lovera Jackson and they were later blessed with four children. They were married for 65 years, until her death in December 2017. Tom was a longtime, faithful, and active member of the Rolla Church of Christ where he served as one of the first two elders, beginning in 1968 and continuing until 2001. In addition to serving as an elder, he spent a great deal of time teaching Bible classes, counseling with families, and doing personal evangelism. He was a supporter of many area-wide ministries such as Little Prairie Bible Camp, for which he served one term as chair of the board. Tom graduated with a math degree from Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas in 1953. After a year teaching high school at Bragg City, Missouri, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and completed his military service at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, at which time he settled his family in Rolla, Missouri. He taught math one year at Rolla High School, worked for the Bureau of Mines, and then completed an MS degree at Missouri School of Mines (later UMR, then MST) and joined the faculty there, where he served until he retired in December of 1994, teaching computer science and serving as assistant department chair. In October 2022 he was honored as an Outstanding Alumnus from the College of Sciences at Harding University in Searcy. Tom was known for his kindness, his quick wit, his gentle spirit, his generosity, his wise counsel, and his efforts to serve people from all walks of life. He strived to be a peace-maker and to follow Jesus. He wrote a series of Bible lessons on "Knowing Jesus" when he was turning 90. In addition to his parents and his wife, Mr. Baird was preceded in death by his seven siblings, Laura Figgins, Marvin Baird, Leonard Baird, Maxine McKnight, Chester Baird, Geraldine Gateley and Sue Warren. He will be greatly missed by his surviving family which includes his four children, Thomas B. Baird Jr. of Gulfport, MS, Timothy Baird and wife Debbie of Searcy, AR, Jeanie March and husband Randy of Littleton, CO, and James Baird and wife Alison of Searcy, AR; and eleven grandchildren: Andrew, Robert and Gregory Baird, Steven, Daniel, and David Baird, Heath March, DeAnna Nunley and Hannah Jernigan, Patrick and Philip Baird; nine great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; other extended family members and dear friends. A celebration of the life of Tom Baird will be held at 1 pm Thursday, June 16, 2022 at the Rolla Church of Christ. Interment will follow in Ozark Hills Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Rolla. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 4-6 pm Wednesday, June 15 at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Jackson-Baird Endowed Scholarship Fund at Harding University.
Obituary: Null and Son Funeral Home