Nadine Baird

Vearl Nadine Baird died on Thursday, November 24, 2016, at her Love Lake Ranch in Taylor, Arizona following a short illness.  She was 88 years old.  Nadine, as she was known, was born on Friday, June 22, 1928, in Taylor, Arizona to her parents, the late Edwin and Cora (Kay) Reidhead. As a girl, Nadine moved with her family to Coal Canyon, just south of Clay Springs, where the family owned and operated a Sawmill.  She learned, early on in life, the value of having a good work ethic and it served her well throughout her life.  After the Coal Canyon Mill shut down, the Reidheads moved to Show Low where they opened the Reidhead Mill.  Nadine finished her grammar school years in the Show Low School District and then, during high school, she rode the bus to Snowflake High School.  She was a member of its Graduating Class of '46.  On May 15, 1948 Nadine began a new chapter in her life when she married her life's love, Joseph Francis "Joe" Baird in a double ring ceremony with their best buddies, Nona McNeil and Larry Baldwin in Gallup, New Mexico.  They continued to live in Show Low until 1961, when they moved to the Love Lake Ranch just outside of Shumway.  It was this ranch that they truly loved to call home.  It was here that their children were reared and learned how to run the working end of a horse.  They instilled within each of their kids a sense of family.  They enjoyed spending their winter months, for the last 25 years of Joe's life at Pumpkin Center in Arizona's Tonto Basin.  While there, Nadine loved to watch Joe participate in team roping.  At the time of Joe's death on October 19, 2011, Nadine and Joe had celebrated 63 years together as man and wife.  Her family will miss her home cooked meals and country charm very much.  However, they will miss her warm and gentle hugs along with her infectious smile the most.Nadine is survived by her four children:  Charlie (Cloe) Baird of the Ft. Worth, Texas area, Dixon (Tish) Baird of Mesa, Arizona, Bob (Mary) Baird of Love Lake, Jolene Baird of Love Lake; 9 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.  Along with her parents and husband, Nadine was preceded in death by all of her eleven brothers and sisters.A private family graveside service will be held at her little spot of heaven on the Love Lake Ranch, where she'll be laid to rest alongside her forever sweetheart.Memorial contributions, in her name, to The White Mountain Hospice Foundation:  P.O. Box 1975, Lakeside, Arizona 85929 have been suggested by her family.Owens Livingston Mortuary - White Mountain Chapel in Show Low cared for the arrangements.