Jonathan is preceded by his parents, Harvey and Jean Laird, and his favorite Frenchie, “Buddy Wayne Laird.” He is survived by his wife, Trudy, and their daughters, Jessica [Husband Rick] and Juliann [Husband Josh], and his siblings Tim, Diane, and Warren. He was honored to be given the name “JPa” by his first grandson, Harrison (age 3), and first granddaughter, Ida (age 1). While Jessica’s children were lucky to know their JPa, Jonathan was also blessed to recieve the news that Juliann would be welcoming grandson #2 into the world later this year.
An unparalleled memory, first-class work ethic, and unique sense of humor endeared friends to Jonathan’s underlying quirky personality. Those that knew him best wouldn’t have been surprised to receive a Christmas present “from” that one guy on the 1993 softball team, to “find” a picture in their Bible of that guy who sits in the third pew, or to hear him explain the rationale behind the peculiar nickname he’d secretly given the grocery store clerk.
Jonathan was a devoted husband to Trudy, who he married in 1998 when her daughters were 6 and 3 years old. When he found Trudy as his partner, he found an entire family, and he graciously accepted the responsibility of providing, caring, and trying to instill a love of Christ, basketball (and the importance of practice, practice, practice!) in the girls.
The couple recently “celebrated” 25 years of marriage, which they actually only realized one evening sitting together on the couch, that they were in fact approaching their 26th wedding anniversary.
Lately, you could find the two on their nightly walks on the nature trail, both never running out of things to say but also enjoying the quiet moments together.
A celebration of Jonathan’s life will be held at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel on Monday, March 25, 2024 at 11:00 AM followed by a reception at Calvert’s In The Heights.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Ministry Village at Olive. https://ministryvillage.org/donate
