Billie Ford Baird

1920 - 2025

Billie Ann Ford Baird passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family November 16, 2025 in Forest Grove, Oregon. Born August 25th, 1920 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Billie Ann quickly developed a life-long love of horses. Her mother, May recognized her infatuation and frequently allowed her to take naps in her pony's manger.

The family moved to Ojai, California and Billie Ann attended an experimental progressive school that nurtured her love of poetry and art. May, Billie Ann and her sister, Phyllis traveled to Montana each summer and created wonderful memories at the Ford and Hollister Ranch in Darby built by her father, William. She loved her Father who called her "Pard" and she often said their relationship was one of complete affectionate understanding.

"Once when we were hurrying from the ranch to Missoula, in order that he might catch a train, I spied a Shetland colt in a field and was so wildly excited and thrilled by the sight that although we nearly missed the train we turned around and went back and father made arrangements to buy the colt, the moment it was weaned, and have it delivered to the ranch. He recognized my excitement was so great I would be unable to eat or sleep unless he reassured me that I would see this animal again. His name was Mischief and he was eventually delivered, on a rainy day, to the ranch with his hair all in curls from the damp. Father loved him too and when he had guests for bridge he frequently would send me out to get Mischief, to lead into the living room. Mischief could drink out of an iced tea glass very neatly."

"Mother was wonderful with us when we were young. If we were ill, she would produce fabulous gifts of wonderful children's books, gloriously illustrated and if we were 'really' very ill, she would dress up and take her hair down and make us laugh."

Billie Ann's life was filled with a love of poetry, literature, art and "books, books, books on every subject." She attended Chinard School of Art, The Pasadena Art Institute and Frod Dann's Art School. She and her husband of 75 years, Robert Bruen Baird, known by his friends as 'Mike', lived in many parts of the country partially due to dislocations of World War II and partly because of "my longing to return to the Bitterroot Valley each summer."

At one time they owned and operated the Rye Creek Ranch, running both grade and registered Herefords as well as American Saddle-Bred Horses. They spent 25 years in Santa Barbara, California, always keeping gaited horses there to ride as well. She lived out her years of owning horses on a small ranch near Hamilton, Montana surrounded by a few "faithful" old horses, sharing the joy of living in the environment they both loved. They sold their ranch and moved into Hamilton and spent many years enjoying sampling the Bitterroot Valley's restaurants.

Robert passed in 2014 and she and Phyllis' grandson, Richard and the family enjoyed her last 7 years in Hamilton, moving to Forest Grove, Oregon in 2021. Billie Ann lived her final years looking out over a natural wetland in the shadow of a wonderful weeping willow that gave her great joy, surrounded by the familiar belongings of her lovely past. She is survived by her grand nephew and his family, her nephew and his family, her husband's niece as well as grand nieces and their families. She will be greatly missed. She requested that there be not be a formal service.