Graveside services were held Mon., Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. at Sunflower Cemetery in Baskin, for Gene Everett Laird, age 91, who passed away Wed., Oct. 26, at his home in Tallulah.
Pastor Jeffery Coleman officiated for the services. Burial followed in the Sunflower Cemetery.
Laird was born Feb. 13, 1931, to the late Beulah and Jesse Laird, and was a native and lifelong resident of Tallulah. He graduated from Tallulah High School and served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. Before being honorably discharged, he married his wife, Virginia Lynell Hopkins, on June 22, 1954.
Though he worked as a licensed electrician and was affiliated with American Sterilizer, Inc., his true calling was farming and ranching. He dedicated more than 50 years of his life to working his land alongside family. Laird enjoyed the outdoors and nature and was credited with the last confirmed observation of the Ivory Billed Woodpecker, as detailed in the books “The Race to Save the Lord God Bird and Grail Bird.”
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Lynell; three children, James “Jim” Richard Laird (Ann) of Mound, Janet Laird Pierce of Transylvania, and John Irving Laird (Debbie) of Livingston, Texas; four grandchildren, Jenna Laird Leger (Marcus) of Crowley, Suzanne Laird Dartez (Kalem) of Winnsboro, William Matthew Laird of Cold Springs, Texas, and Clay Laird Pierce of Warner, Okla.; and three great-grandchildren, Mary Marcus, Sam, and Eleanor Leger. He also leaves behind a sister, Ann Kukor, and a brother, John Laird, as well as several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his brother, Allan Laird.
His spirits were always lifted to be in the company of Cammie Sumners, both caregiver and friend.
As a lifelong member of the Masonic Lodge, Laird was a long-time supporter of the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Attention Processing Center, P. O. Box 947765, Atlanta GA
