John B. Baird III

The life of John Barnett Baird, III, a lifelong Houston resident, began two years before his birth, at Christ Church Cathedral, with the marriage of his late parents, John B. Baird and Mildred Bennett.

John’s relationship with Christ Church Cathedral continued from his days as an altar boy. He was a passionate photographer, birder, camper, world traveler, and coin collector, but his primary enthusiasm was Rice University athletics in all forms. He was a Kinkaid School “lifer” and a Rice University alum, with a chemical engineering degree from the University of Houston.

John is survived by his wife and partner of almost 40 years, Jane Everette Herring, and two daughters and their children, the elder being Lacy Maret Baird, mother of Stella Karen Baird and Sebastian Solberg Baird, and the younger being Ashley Bennett Baird and her two children, Sabrina Bridget Case and John Allen Case. John’s former wife, the mother of his children, Karen Solberg Baird, remained his close friend. His sister, Tamara Baird Dyer, also survives him. Lacy’s partner, Dan Oren Dinges, is by her side.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Mildred Baird, and two younger brothers, Edward Hudson Baird and Richard Morris Baird.

Friends are cordially invited to gather and share remembrances with the family from six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 28th of July, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service will be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 29th of July, at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue in Houston. Immediately following the service, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held at the church.

In lieu of customary remembrances, John’s family would prefer that memorial contributions be directed towards Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX 77002; or to Baylor College of Medicine’s Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at MSC#800, P. O. Box 4976, Houston, TX 77210.