Avis Baird, 79

Avis M. Baird, age 79, of rural Butler, Indiana, died at 5:43 P.M. on Friday, May 8, 2015, at DeKalb Memorial Hospital, in Auburn, Indiana, where she was a patient, after an extended illness. Following graduation as valedictorian of the class of 1954 from Butler High School, Avis worked as a bookkeeper until she became a full-time homemaker. She retired from DeKalb Molded Plastics in 2001. Her memberships included Big Run Church and Town & Country Home Demonstration Club. She was a former 4-H leader and enjoyed assisting in her daughter’s classroom. Over the years she baked and decorated many cakes, especially wedding cakes for numerous family members. She especially enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s and nieces and nephews’ many sporting events and other activities.

Avis M. Baird was born on March 9, 1936, in DeKalb County, Indiana, the daughter of Charles W. and Flossie M. (Warstler) Armstrong, Sr. She married Richard A. Jennings on December 7, 1956, in Butler, Indiana, and he preceded her in death on October 21, 1963. She then married Bud Baird on August 1, 1966, in Butler, Indiana, and he survives.

Surviving in addition to her husband are one son, David Jennings, of Butler, Indiana; two daughters, Denise (Paul) Grider, of Auburn, Indiana, and their children, Ashley, Megan and Jonathan, and Diane (Tracy) Martin, of Garrett, Indiana, and their children, Alexander and Kelsey; three stepsons, Gary (Terri) Baird, of Newburgh, Indiana, and their children, Michael, Michelle and Shannon, Dave Baird of Bremerton, Washington, and his children, Margo, Amie and Jamie, and Steve Baird, of Elkhart, Indiana, and his children, Travis and Kara; one stepdaughter, Kellie Chambers, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and her daughter, Taylor; twenty-one great-grandchildren; and four sisters-in-law, Dolores (Darrell) Treesh, of Auburn, Roma Baker, also of Auburn, Maxine Sanders and Phyllis Jennings, both of Edgerton, Ohio. Preceding her in death in addition to her first husband were her parents; two brothers, Robert Dale Armstrong and Charles W. Armstrong, Jr.; and one sister, Beatrice “Susie” Freidenberger.

Services for Avis M. Baird will be held at 4:00 P.M. on Friday, May 15, 2015, at Big Run Church, located at the corner of County Road 75 and County Road 28, Butler, Indiana, with Pastor Richard Woolever officiating. There will be no visitation prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the DeKalb County 4-H Council or the DeKalb County Humane Society.