Mona Marie Baird

Mona Marie (Holt) Baird died October 18, 2018 in Edmond, Oklahoma at the age of 101. She had resided at The Villagio at Bradford Village in Edmond, Oklahoma since 1992. A grave-side service will be held at Sunnyside Cemetery on Monday Oct 22 at 3:00 p.m. A memorial service will held be on Tuesday Oct 23 at 2:00 p.m. at Southern Hills Christian Church in Edmond.Mona was born in Quanah, Texas to Olen and Marie Holt on Nov. 21, 1916. After graduating from high school as valedictorian of her class, she attended Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, graduating in 1939. She was married to Rev. R. Scott Baird in Enid in 1942. He preceded her in death in 2007. During their marriage, they pastored Disciples of Christ congregations in Blytheville, AR, Shawnee, OK, The Village, OK, and Oklahoma City.Family and friends meant much to Mona. She was the mother of four, grandmother of 6 and great-grandmother of 9. She is survived by a daughter, Beth Gerardy, of Edmond and three sons and their wives: Robert and Ann Baird of Austin, TX; David Baird and Janice Williams of Kansas City, MO; Russell and Tammy Baird of Oklahoma City. She has five granddaughters and one grandson -Tonja Gerardy of Franklin, IN; Lisa Whitehill of Edmond, OK; Dana Donley of Oklahoma City; Jenny Orr of Carterville, IL; Ellen Rosino of Moore, OK; and Andrew Baird of New York City. In addition to her own children, Mona cared for other young people in her home at various times, including Jose Andres-Mena of Costa Rica and Jackson Bedford of Atlanta, GA.She is preceded in death by a brother, Roy Holt, sister, Bobbie Mae Hampton, and sister-in-law, Cleta Holt. She is survived by three brothers: Orval Holt (wife Margaret) of San Antonio, TX; Layton Holt (wife Melba) of Mabank, TX; Irl Neil Holt of Vernon, TX. She has numerous beloved nieces and nephews.Mona Baird was ordained into the Ministry of Christian Education in the Disciples of Christ Church Denomination in 1940 and served in local and regional ministries. She taught public school for a few years and later served as Director of Head Start for Action, Inc. in Pottawatomie and Cleveland Counties of Oklahoma.In her church and community, Mona held many positions of leadership. She worked in the Christian Education of children and in leadership training, both locally and regionally for many years. She was active in the Christian Women’s Fellowship of her church, serving in many offices. In both Shawnee and Edmond, she helped to organize Church Women United and served as president for each unit.In Shawnee she helped to establish a Day Care facility sponsored by the churches and helped to organize a Mother’s Day Out and a Pre-school program in her local church. In retirement, she volunteered in many programs that helped enrich her community. Memorials may be made to Southern Hills Christian Church, 3207 S. Boulevard, Edmond, OK 73013.