Larry Burton Baird

Larry Burton Baird was born in Kilgore, TX on September 15, 1937 to Elsie Mae and Foy Baird. He and his sister Georgia, grew up surrounded by an extended family whose lives centered around their local church body. After graduating from high school, Larry attended Kilgore College before transferring to Texas Tech to pursue a mechanical engineering degree. In Larry’s junior year, Patti Riordan came into his life and never left. The two of them had a close group of friends and were active at the Bible chair at Tech. When Larry graduated, they married in January of 1960 and moved to Orange, California where 11 months later, their first child “number 1 son” Kevin was born. A few years later they returned to Texas so Larry could continue to pursue his career. In 1963 their cherished daughter, Kim was born and their family was complete.

Many lives were touched through Larry and Patti’s devotion to their Savior and His people as well as their devotion to each other. In 1963, they were founding members of Waterview Church of Christ in Richardson where they worked in the youth and education ministries. Larry’s job sent to New York for a year and eventually the family settled in Austin in 1969. They attended Highland Village for a few years then were part of a group that founded Westover Hills Church of Christ in 1971. Over the years that Larry and Patti served the Westover family, they were involved in shepherding the youth group in particular, but also couples and singles as well. During this time they also worked in the foster care system bringing many children of all ages into their home and assisting young single mothers in need of support. Larry brought an openness and spiritual presence to all his encounters and served as an elder at Westover for many years. In the mid 90’s Larry and Patti helped begin a new work called High Point Fellowship in Cedar Park where their partnership in ministry blessed a whole new group of those seeking a relationship with our Savior. They helped to begin the Stephen Ministry and served as one of the shepherding couples for that body.

Larry’s love for his wife Patti was steadfast and undeniable. They were true partners who worked together to bless those around them and bring them closer to their Creator. So much so, that when Patti went into a memory care facility, Larry moved in with her despite the fact that he was still very sharp mentally. From the outside, this environment seemed limiting for a man with natural gifts for socializing and outreach but he never gave it a second thought or seemed to notice. When Patti went to be with God, he stayed in that place because the staff there knew them as a couple and he could talk easily with them about Patti.

Larry lived his life full of gratitude toward his God and for his family. He loved and supported Kevin and Kim in all their endeavors, welcomed and cherished their spouses, and doted on his four grandchildren. The family has many great memories of spending time together at Grampas world in Bertram where Larry and Patti began living just before retirement and after. At the end of his life Larry always expressed gratitude to those who were caring for him and never complained ab out his circumstances or his decline in health. As he reached his final hours, a number of caregivers at Cedar Ridge where he lived, came by to express to him and the family how much they loved him and would miss him. The family is forever thankful and indebted to those caregivers that cared for him so well.

Larry is going home to be reunited with his beloved wife Patti, his parents For and Elsie Mae, and his sister Georgia Smith as well as many other friends and family who have gone before him. He leaves behind to remember him, his grateful family, son Kevin and wife Gwyn, daughter Kim and husband Will, and grandchildren Catie and husband Austin, Abbie and husband Jarron, Tanner and fiancé Maryn, and Kendall and husband Jack.

We mourn his loss but rejoice that he and Patti are reunited. We imagine them sitting on a porch swing out in Grampas world, holding hands, and contemplating a good plate of Mexican food.

For those who wish to honor Larry by donation in lieu of flowers, please click this direct link to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.