Mitchell Craig Laird

Mitch Laird was born on June 2, 1950, in Mooreland, OK, and passed away on December 26, 2025 in Scottsdale, AZ. Mitch was raised by Bill and Jane Laird with his three brothers Bill, Rick and Bob in Woodward, Oklahoma. Mitch prayed with his grandmother to accept Christ as his personal Savior at the age of ten. Mitch was drafted twice in the Major League Baseball draft, and went to Arizona on a baseball scholarship to attend Grand Canyon University. In 1972 Mitch graduated from GCU with a degree in business. He received his Juris Doctorate in 1976 from Arizona State University College of Law.

Mitch founded his law firm now known as Laird and Associates. He’s a member of the Arizona State Bar Association, the Christian Legal Society, and licensed to practice law before the Supreme Court. He served for many years as general counsel to GCU, the Arizona Republican Party, and North Phoenix Baptist Church. In 2004 Mitch was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law degree from his alma mater, GCU. Mitch was a Commissioner on the Clean Election Commission and also on the Board of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to practicing law, Mitch was involved in a number of business endeavors, including Burger King and its National Franchisee Association. Mitch was President and CEO for Canyon Institute, a nonprofit that distributes money to Christian charities and organizations all over the world.

If you were to ask Mitch, he would probably say his greatest accomplishment and honor, would be raising his three sons Matthew, Michael and Mark. Mitch always spent time with his sons. He coached them, taught and mentored them. He set an example for his sons on how to be a Christian man. He always said, “I don’t want to spoil them by giving them money. I want to give them my time.” And he did. Mitch loved to travel, play some golf; but the thing he loved most was spending time with his grandchildren— cooking, watching them play baseball, going to plays, concerts, and many other events.

Mitch is survived by his wife of 52 years, Becki Laird, his three sons, Matthew, Michael (Lisa), and Mark (Kristin) Laird; his grandchildren, Maddox Craig, Miller Craig, Landon James, Davis Robert, Grace Christine, and Campbell Jane; and his brothers Bob Laird and Bill Laird.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at the North Phoenix Baptist Church Chapel, located at 5757 N. Central, Phoenix, Arizona. The service is scheduled for January 10, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.