Donna Jeanne Baird

A memorial prayer service for Donna Baird, 94, of Tracy, will be Saturday, March 4, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Tracy.  A visitation will be held on Saturday from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the remembrance center. A private family interment will take place at a later date.

Donna Jeanne (Weaver) Baird was born on July 22, 1928, in Tracy, MN, to Ed and Mable (Jones) Weaver.  She grew up in Tracy and graduated from the Tracy High School.  She married Orvin Johnson in 1946 and to this union were born daughters Linda and Nancy.  The couple farmed until 1952 when Orvin moved to Alaska with some buddies to help with the building of the Ketchikan Pulp Mill and, later, the Alaska Pipeline.  Donna and the girls moved to join him in 1954.  While living in Ketchikan, Donna worked at Race Drug Store for many years.  In February, 1960, she married H. “Rocky” Baird in Ketchikan.  The couple loved to travel and visited many countries all over the world.  They ended one trip in Hawaii and ended up retiring in Kailua Kona Hawaii.  After Rocky’s death in 1992, Donna moved to the Seattle area to be closer to family. 

Donna loved cooking.  She enjoyed catering private events while living in Hawaii.  In 2001, she moved to a home she designed in Tracy in order to be closer to her daughter, Linda.  After an injury she became immobile.  In 2006, she entered the nursing home.  She lived in the Colonial Manor in Balaton and the Prairie View Senior Living in Tracy.

Donna died on Sunday, February 26, 2023, at the Prairie View Health Care Center in Tracy.  She is survived by her daughter Linda (David) Rykhus of Tracy; grandchildren Ron (Lorrie) Magaoay of Kenmore, WA, Ra’chel Magaoay of Mississippi, Marc (Liz) Kelly of Buckley, WA and Amy Williams of Tracy; step-grandchildren Chad (Shelly) Rykhus of Marshall, Mike (Jessica) Rykhus of Brandon, SD, Nathan (Stacey) Johnson of St. Peter, MN, Lee (Cindee) Rykhus of Murrietta, CA, Brad Rykhus of Redwood Falls and Troy (Giselle) Rykhus of New Bern, NC; nine great-grandchildren; 14 step-great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson and 10 step great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, daughter Nancy (Johnson) Williams, both husbands, sisters Virginia Saxton and Ardy Williams, nieces, nephews and cousins.