Leslie Reid Bird

Leslie Reid Bird was born January 6, 1935 to John A. Reid and Lucretia Burlingame. She passed away January 30th after a brief illness.
Leslie grew up in Cotuit. She was a 1953 graduate of Barnstable High School. She went on to earn degrees at Elmira College and Columbia School of Nursing. Her nursing career found her in NY, LA, and Boston before returning to Cape Cod to continue nursing. There she met her husband Barry and started a family.
Leslie was a road warrior and loved to travel. She beamed with excitement hearing about her children, grandchildren and friends travel expeditions. Leslie was incredibly social and was often the first one at the party and the last one to leave. As was the case at her recent 88th birthday party at the Cotuit Highgrounds.
As a past president of Bayberry Quilters Leslie continued to be involved with the annual quilt show, workshops, and challenge quilts. She was often found over the years at the Piece Treasures table. She hosted and participated in a weekly quilting gathering with The Way Far Outs.
Leslie was always reading novels. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and other word and number games. A jigsaw puzzle in some state was often covering her sewing table between quilt projects.
Leslie was fiercely independent and rarely asked for anything.
She had a big hearty laugh that was unmistakable. Her voice commanded respect and attention from her children and anyone else within ear shot. If she said your name, you heard it.
Leslie often drove a station wagon full of children (not all belonging to her) to museums, parks, beaches, and more adventures. She was always first to volunteer for any chaperone positions for school field trips. With their ten children in tow Leslie and Marge Sullivan began their own 4H group and continued her love of nature, teaching, exploring, and discovering.
Leslie was predeceased by her husband Barry R. Bird and sister Gail (Reid) Riggs. She is survived by her five children Garrett, Derek, Travis and wife Kathy (Goodwin), Sarah, Rachel and husband Richard Robinson, three grandchildren: Austin, Megan, and Jeremy, her brothers Roger Reid and wife Betsey (Cabral), Johnnie Reid, James Barger and wife Jane (Peinze), brother-in-law Charles Riggs, sister-in-law Mary (Bird) Litwinetz, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and multitude of others who considered her Ma Ma Les.
Visiting hours will be held Thursday, February 2, from 4:00-6:00pm at Chapman Funerals & Cremations, John-Lawrence Chapel, 3778 Falmouth Rd. Marstons Mills, MA 02648. A Graveside service will take place on Saturday,February 4, at 11:00am, Mosswood Cemetery located at 280 Putnam Ave, Cotuit, MA 02635.