Darleen Rollins Baird, age 83 passed away on Saturday December 28, 2019 with her family by her side. Darleen was born Wednesday January 1, 1936 in Kenefic, Oklahoma to Vera Stephenson Rollins and Cecil G Rollins. Darleen was the 2nd of four children, she enjoyed a happy and lively childhood growing up with her 3 siblings. She grew up in Tishomingo, Oklahoma on a peanut farm in a home full of love and adventure.
She graduated from Tishomingo High School in 1954 and Murray State Junior College in 1956. She was in middle management with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. In 1986, she went to work for the May Company and achieved two full retirements from both companies.
She married the love of her live and best friend Kenneth Ray Baird on Saturday March 30, 1956. She moved to Dallas as a young married woman with her husband Kenneth. Together they had one amazing daughter, Kathy Turner, whom they adopted as an infant in 1970. Kathy had three daughters, Kennedy Paige Turner (21), Kassidy Faith Turner (18), and Kacey Grace Turner (14). Darleen loved her family more than anything in life and would drop what she was doing in a second to help her daughter and granddaughters. She was an amazing wife, mother and grandma.
Darleen was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in her 30s, but never let it stop or define her. She rarely ever complained and was known to never speak of her physical pain. She fought until the very end to stay with her family.
She was a long-standing member of Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church since 1969. She served with the church weekly and made it a priority in life. She was a true servant to God till her final breath, sharing her faith in the many stories she loved to tell.
Darleen was the most loving person you'd ever meet She was affectionally called Deen, Big Bad John and her grandchildren knew her as Nani. She loved staying at home watching Family Feud and thought Steve Harvey was the funniest man on TV. Darleen loved to sew, cook, being with her family and serve he loved ones in anyway she could. Darleen had the biggest laugh and it warmed the heart of anyone close enough to hear.
Darleen Rollins Baird will be greatly missed by many.
Darleen is survived by her husband, Kenneth Ray Baird; daughter Kathy Turner; granddaughters Kennedy, Kassidy and Kacey Turner; sister Noreta Vandevier.
Darleen was preceded in death by; father Cecil G Rollins and mother Vera Stephenson Rollins; brother Cecil Rollins; sister-in-law Gina Rollins; sister-in-law Nita Rollins and brother-in-law George William Vandevier; bother Leo Rollins and nephew Ed Rollins.
A memorial service for Darleen will be held Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 2:00 PM at Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church, 9810 LaPrada Drive, Dallas, Texas 75228. A family will have a private burial at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery will occur.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Crane.com for the Baird family.
