Ella Faye Baird

Ella Faye {Wood} Baird, 87, died Thursday morning August 11, 2016 at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma surrounded by members of her family. Born June 4, 1929 in Vandalia, Missouri she was the daughter of Alva and Lois {Gibson} Wood. Faye shared her childhood with sisters Wilma and Helen and baby brother Leon. Her childhood nickname was “Bunny Nose.” September 11, 1948 proved to be a special date as Ella Faye Wood and Harold {Corky/Speed} Baird, Sr. were married. They enjoyed 66 years together with 62 of those years as residents of {Melville} Godfrey, Illinois in the same home on Clara Drive. Faye participated in the marching band at Bowling Green High School as a bass drummer. Though never learning to read music, she played the organ “by ear.” In her junior and senior years she acted in school plays. As a high school student Faye developed skills in clothes designing; on one occasion modeling her own creation at the University of Missouri. A graduate of Bowling Green in 1947, she earned an offer of a full scholarship to attend a nursing school in St. Louis. Plans changed as Corky Baird entered her life through a “chance meeting” at a hospital where Faye was assisting with care for his grandmother. His grandmother stated to Faye, “You take good care of my Corky!” She fulfilled that request. A footnote she always smiled about, Faye was runner-up in the Pike County Fair Beauty Pageant. Ella {as many called her later in life} served as a Den Mother in a Cub Scout Troop and was quite involved in several capacities at the old Melville Union Congregational Church. She and Corky served many years as election judges in Godfrey. For fifteen years she worked as a cook in the Alton School District, both at North Junior High School and Alton High on College Avenue. Perhaps, her greatest legacy was and is the everlasting love she openly shared with anyone and everyone who crossed her path. “I never meet a stranger” she would say and you were certain to receive a hug. Surviving are two daughters, Sandra Geller {Jim} of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Lori Schwartz {Gary} of Lake Cormorant, Mississippi; a son Harold ‘Richard’ Baird, Jr. {Terry O’Connor} of Alton; and Butch Chapman {Brenda} of Jerseyville, raised and considered a son. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren. Along with her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Corky; a sister Wilma, a brother Leon, a daughter Phyllis Harrell and several “special” in-laws, relatives, and loved ones. Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton where funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 17, 2016 with Chaplain Marc Lane officiating. Burial will be at Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey. Memorials may be given to the Salvation Army or the USO.

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Ella Faye Baird

June 4, 1929 - August 11, 2016