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BIRD -- Margaret Wessels Bird peacefully passed away in her sleep on Monday, January 3, 2005 at Laurel Meadows Healthcare in Belen, NM. Margaret was born on August 31, 1912 in St. Louis, Missouri. Margaret grew up in St Louis and lost her mother and all siblings except Johnny to tuberculosis at the age of 11. She attended business college and was one of the best secretary/stenographers in all of Albuquerque according to her coworkers. She came to Albuquerque in 1937 with a friend for a visit and liked it so much she moved from St. Louis to Albuquerque and remained in New Mexico for the rest of her life. Margaret married Earl Bird on May 31, 1949 in Taos, NM. Earl brought with him from a previous marriage three children, Thomas Allen, Judith Ann, and Michael Lewis Bird. Margaret was a loving and beloved stepmother. Earl and Margaret had two daughters together, MaryAnn and Betty Lou. She was very active with Catholic Daughters at St. Charles Borromeo Church and made many lifelong friends there. Marge and Earl became founding members of Holy Ghost Church. Earl was a Railway Postal Clerk and later Supervisor for the U.S. Postal Service and Marge was active in the Postal Clerks Wives organization. As her girls were growing up, Marge was a Girl Scout leader and "Mom" to many of the girls at Holy Ghost School. She was an inspiration to all around her and had so much love for life. Marge was a civil service employee working for various units including the Navy and 901st Military Intelligence Unit. She retired in 1976 to spend time with her grandchildren. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Laborious Wessels and Gertrude Molitor Wessels; her husband, Earl Allen Bird (1974); and six siblings: Aloysius, Gertrude, Emma, Pauline, Steven, and her beloved little brother, Johnny. Margaret is survived by stepchildren, Tom and Jody Bird of St. Regis, Montana, Michael Bird and son Jordan of Park City, Utah, Judy and Mike Staed of Renton, Washington; her precious daughters, MaryAnn Mathews of Belen, NM , and Betty Wellman and husband David of Albuquerque, NM; grandchildren, Tye, Julie, Todd, Callie, and Jennifer Gibson of Belen NM, and Ethan, Eric, and Elliott Wellman of Albuquerque, NM. Margaret is also survived by a special niece, Colleen McNamara-Libby. Margaret's Indiana Street neighbors were all a special blessing to her. A Rosary will be recited at Holy Ghost Catholic Church at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 6, 2005. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Ghost Catholic Church at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, January 7, 2005. Interment will be at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. (Friends are invited to the home of Minnie McKenna, 913 Indiana SE following mass.) Pallbearers will be Tye Gibson, Todd Gibson, Les Gibson, Ethan Wellman, Eric Wellman, and Elliott Wellman. Honorary Pallbearers will be John Hunt, Fr. John Flaska, Gilbert Libby, and David Wellman. Arrangements by Direct Funeral Services, 2919 4th ST. NW. ABQ. 505-343-8008
        Published on: Wed January 05, 2005