Kenneth Bradley Baird

1933 ~ 2013
Kenneth Bradley Baird of Heber City, took his family by surprise when he crossed home plate for the last time on Thursday, October 3, 2013. His cheering squad and team players were there by his side, as he left to meet up with his favorite fan, scorekeeper and wife, Marilyn Duffin Baird. Kenneth Baird was born on March 30, 1933 to Rex Stratford and Arvilla May Millward Baird in Salt Lake City, Utah. He spent most of his youth in the Tooele/Grantsville and Salt Lake City areas. His children and grandchildren loved the stories of his adventures and the frolics of his youth with his only brother, Marv.
Ken married the prettiest gal around, Marilyn Duffin, on January 22, 1954 in the LDS Salt Lake Temple. They lived a short period of time in the Denver area while Ken did training as an Army MASH unit cook. Eventually they returned to the Butler area of Salt Lake City where they raised their family. There they formed their own softball team; shortstop and first born was Brad; next came the first baseman, Mark; then second baseman, Kyle and finally Blaik came to man third base. Ken loved hunting, fishing, and playing softball. His softball addiction spanned more than 60 years starting with the Butler 1st Ward young men's All Church Softball Championship team, then the U.S. Army Division team and the Salt Lake County Fast Pitch league. He took an 11 year break to coach his sons and dozens of young men in the Butler WBBA little league. After moving the family to Heber City in 1977 Ken again took to the diamond playing slow pitch softball with his sons and good friends for the next 30 years. He also played in the Huntsman Senior Games in St. George and in the Salt Lake Seniors' league until 2011. Marilyn was always there as the scorekeeper and licorice provider. Softball was the family's bonding time and most of his grandchildren have played softball/baseball on competitive teams.
Ken was employed early in his marriage by Utah Sand and Gravel, which was later bought out by Monroc. When asked to operate Park City's first ready mix batch plant, he moved his family to Heber. Monroc later became Jack B Parson Companies - many productive years were spent as Division Manager, Plant Manager and Sales Manager for them. Ken loved his 42 years of work in the ready mix concrete business. Kenny retired in 1998 to serve as an LDS missionary with his favorite companion and sweetheart, Marilyn, in the New York Rochester Mission. They worked at church history sites in the Palmyra, New York area teaching visitors of the restoration of the gospel and the coming forth of the LDS church. Ken and Marilyn were both active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Ken had many opportunities to serve others when he served as Bishop, Counselor to three Bishops, High Councilman and faithful home teacher.
His free time was usually taken up by some family event such as watching a grandchild participate in a sporting event or school drama production, attending a BYU sporting event, embarking on a family pheasant or deer hunt, attending the annual Duffin Family 4th of July picnic at Lagoon. Sunday evenings were reserved for family dinner/birthday celebrations and Ken was always available to help with a family chore or project. Ken took special delight in delivering donuts to contractors at job sites and to his grandchildren. For many years he delivered more flowers to his daughters-in-law than his sons did.They were the girls he never had and he loved them like his own. Kenneth is preceded in death by his "sweetheart", Marilyn, his parents, and his only brother, Marvin Baird from Grantsville, Utah. We are certain that he was greeted on the other side by a multitude of family and friends whose lives were affected by him and the great example he set.
He leaves behind a loving legacy and a great team that will greatly miss his Sunday morning of General Conference strawberry pancakes, donut deliveries, his quiet and loving nature, and the example of loving your eternal companion to the end. His family includes Brad and LaWynn and their 2 children; Mark and Lynn and their 4 children and 5 grandchildren; Kyle and Melanie and their 4 children; and Blaik and Annette and their 5 children and 4 grandchildren - all of which live in Heber City, except for one cute sister missionary and a few away at college.
Family traditions and memories are a big part of the Baird family, and these were taught and preserved by Ken and Marilyn because they wanted their family to love each other always and forever. We can promise that the traditions and testimonies will go on for generations to come. Love you Pop!
Services will be held at the Heber East Stake Center on 2400 South Mill Road (1200 East) Heber City, Utah on Saturday, October 12th at 11:00 a.m. Viewings will be held at the same location on Friday evening from 6-8:00, and on Saturday morning from 9-10:30.