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Baird -- La Reta Beryl"Sally" Baird, 91, longtime resident of the Upper Piedra Valley outside Pagosa Springs, Colorado, died in the early morning hours of Sunday, August 15, 1999, after a valiant struggle with old age these past few years. Old age won. She was lovingly attended by the staff at Colonial Manner in Whitefish, Montana, near her family. Sally was born October 12, 1907 in Lovelock, Nevada to Le Roy Eugene Beeson and Sarah Edith Clem Beeson and graduated from Pershing High School there in 1925. She attended the University of Idaho at Moscow where she met the man of her dreams, John Cecil Baird of Chicago, Illinois. They were married on June 18, 1929 in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. After raising their daughter, Madalyne Carol, keeping the home fire burning in Wickford, Rhode Island while Johnny (US Navy Commander) was away at war in the Pacific, and being a valuable and supportive Forest Ranger's wife, Sally returned to school to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the Arizona State College at Flagstaff in 1959. To help bankroll her education she wrote short stories which were published in the classic"True Romance" pulp fiction magazines of the day. How she relished spinning a tale! She taught elementary school in Pagosa Springs for many years and was appointed to the office of Hinsdale County Superintendent of Schools in 1969. She also taught in the Indian Schools of Arizona and New Mexico. She found great joy in teaching and reminisced often, especially with stories of antics on the playground or in"gym" class. Sally was an accomplished athlete (state champion basketball player in high school and tennis champ in college); an avid sports fan, meticulously recording stats as she watched both in the stands and on TV; and a true outdoorsman. She could hunt, fish and ride as an equal with any man and took pride in her skills. Her independent spirit and unique humor will be remembered by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her brother, Clem Beeson. She is also survived by her daughter, M. Carol Izett; granddaughter, Christya Carol Izett; grandson, Cory Craig Izett; great-grandchildren, Jade Piedra Mason, Justin Craig Izett, and Scott Hale Izett, all of Whitefish, MT; as well as her devoted husband, Johnny Baird, currently residing at Sunshine Gardens West in Durango, Colorado. She was"his gal Sal" and will be sorely missed. Her ashes will be returned to the cabin on the Piedra River which she loved so well. Remembrances may be made in her name to any charitable organization benefiting childrens' sports education or the preservation of the American West.
        Published on: Sat August 21, 1999