Edward Redington Baird

EDWARD REDINGTON BAIRD died peacefully at home, surrounded by his children, on March 9, 2004 at age 85. Born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, he graduated from the University of Texas in 1943 with a BS in Geology. He served with the 351st Bomb Group as a photographer and gunner on B17 aircraft based in Polebrook, England. After the war, he discovered oil and gas fields in Louisiana, Texas, and Wyoming and married Ida May Mueller of Houston and became a father to her three children. They lived for three years in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico; settled in Houston in 1952 and added three more children to the family. In 1962 he obtained a degree from the South Texas College of Law and entered into a second career as a title lawyer until he retired in 1996 at age 78. Baird will be missed for his gentle manners, affection, adventurous spirit, wry sense of humor, intellect and his wide ranging interests from Tai Chi and Chinese calligraphy to history, English literature, jazz, classical music, and his son John's rock band. His tastes ran from morning pot of tea on the porch to chilidogs and Vietnamese noodles. He is survived by his children: Charles Cary O'Connor and his wife, Linda O'Connor; Justice Michol O'Connor; Jane Baird; John Baird and his wife, LeeAnn Vosel; David Baird; and grandchildren: Katherine Ann Tracy; Cara O'Connor; Baird James Craft and his wife, Karen Craft, and their children Ethan and Abigail; as well as an extended family with whom he shared many laughs and his special holiday eggnog. (Not to worry, the eggnog recipe is safe.) A memorial service will be held in the family home on Saturday, March 13 at 10 am at 232 Emerson Street. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Houston SPCA (900 Portway Dr., Houston 77024) in honor of his beloved dog, Sonny.