Jay Dee Bird

Funeral services for Jay Dee Bird will be held on Friday, July 20th, 2018 at 2:00 PM at the Illinois River Baptist Church with Pastor Wayne Forrest and Pastor James Wilkerson officiating. His Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 19th, 2018 at Reed-Culver Funeral Home beginning at noon until 6:00 PM. His final resting place is near his beloved wife Laura Mae Bird at Thompson Cemetery on the Illinois River. Online condolences for his family may be left at www.reedculver.com.

Pallbearers for Jay include Jerry Bird, Andrew Bird, Leon Bird, Rick Pathkiller, Rodney Bird and Nathan McCullough. His Honorary pallbearers include all of his nephews.

Jay Dee Bird was born on July 26th, 1938 in Adair County, OK, at his family home, the son of William and Charlotte (Hilderbrand) Bird. He grew up with six brothers and four sisters, Chooch, Sam, JB, Johnny, Mickey, Taylor, Lola, Nancy, Mary and Sarah. He attended school at Holland and then began his working career, spending most of his career at Allen Canning Company as a Security Guard and Maintenance Provider. In May of 1959, he married the love of his life and his best friend, Laura Mae Whaler in Adair County, OK. Together they enjoyed 58 years of memories and raised two sons, Willard and DeWayne. When he had some spare time on his hands, Jay Dee loved old Chevy vehicles and antique cars. He was a gifted leather worker and made beautiful saddles and jewelry such as earrings. He was always ready to go around the countryside, visiting friends and relatives. He enjoyed time spend in the garden raising vegetables. He loved to laugh and have a good time, and he was always happiest surrounded by his children and grandchildren, they were everything to him. He was a Christian by faith, and both he and his Laura Mae faithfully attended the Illinois River Baptist Church. They were faithful prayer warriors and worked hard to show the love of the Lord to all they knew. Laura Mae passed from this life on July 12th, 2016 and Jay Dee stayed near those he loved. The Lord called him to his eternal rest on July 16th, 2018 at his home in Chewey, OK. He was 79 years old. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.

He is preceded in death by his mother, father, wife Laura Mae, brothers Chooch Bird, Sam Bird, JB Bird, Johnny Bird, Mickey Pathkiller, Taylor Crittenden, and sisters, Nancy Watkins, Mary Hilderbrand and Sarah Oakball.

Those left to cherish his memory include his sons, Willard Dean Bird and wife Reba of Watts, Ok, and DeWayne Bird of the home in Watts. He leaves one sister, Lola Crittenden of Watts. He lives on in his 9 grandchildren, Brent Sands and wife Paula of Welling, Kristi King of Chewey, Kendra Mitchell and companion Chris Thrillkill of Watts, Byron Sands and wife Brenda of Watts, Stephanie Womack and husband Kevin of Westville, Deanna Bird and companion Jason Turner of Watts, Donnie Bird of Watts, Narcie Bird of Watts, and Chandler Sands and wife Carmen of Kansas, OK. He leaves 31 great grandchildren, 8 great great grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.