Washita Co. - Obit for Elmer Baird

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Obit for Elmer Baird

Elmer Baird was born November 18, 1908 in Texas to Allene Beall Baird and
Albert Washington Baird. 

Elmer was nicknamed “Bud” after his mother's brother. He grew up in Frost, TX
which is about 50 miles southwest of Dallas. His father was a blacksmith. 

“Bud” had polio when he was young, which caused him to limp his entire life, even
though he had a series of operations on his leg, both hips, and both knees. Yet he
was a livewire. He once cleared part of an acreage to make a tennis court, and beat
any challenger. 

Archie tells of the time that Frost played their rival in football, the Corsicana
State Orphans School. It seems that Archie caught the ball and ran 80 yards for a
touchdown. As Archie put it, “The whole way, huffing and puffing behind me, and
limping as he went, Bud kept saying, `Keep going, Arch! All the way!'” 

After high school, Bud and his family came to Cordell to visit his aunt and was
kicked by a mule. He remained in Cordell to work as operator of hte film machine
in the local theatre to pay his $17.00 doctor bill. Then he moved back to Frost and
helped build the river bridge north of Waco. 

In later years, he moved to Carlsbad and worked in a mine. It was there that he
found he enjoyed running movie theatres, and eventually moved to San
Clemente, California to become a partner in the theatre business. He advertised
his movies by driving around on his little red scooter. 

After the death of his mother in 1965 and his dad in 1968, our “Buddy,” came to
live in Cordell. 

Buddy was loved very much. He was a staple around the Methodist Church and
was quick to tinker with anything broken. He had his own drawer in the church
kitchen to keep his tools in and his favorite stool was always reserved for him
there. 

He would go first thing in the morning to the First National Bank and make their
coffee for them, then proceed to the Methodist Church and start a coffee pot there.
When he was able, he would come back to the church after Kiwanis and clean the
tables. Bud knew from bible teachings that “the worker is worthy of his hire,” and
looked forward to the treats the ladies of the chuch would fix him. His next stop
would be King-Lindsey for his much loved afternoon soda pop. 

He taught Sunday School for many years and sang in the choir, putting to good
use the teaching he and Archie got at the V.O. Stamps Singing School. 

Buddy enjoyed the harmonica and had an old one he liked to play. O.H. Williams
thought Buddy needed a new one and bought him one. Which tickled Buddy, but
he still like to play his old one! Eleanor was loyal to take him meals each week and
had to bribe him to take off his Atlanta Braves cap that Roy and Judy Lindsey
bought him so that she could wash it. 

In later years, Buddy still like to tinker. He wired a light over his bed in his home.
Ask Archie or Geraldine how he rigged his air conditioner! It worked! 

Living in the nursing home and confined to his wheelchair, Buddy never had a
discouraging word about anyone. He knew so many people, and so many people
would stop and say “hi,”. 

Today, we've come to say “goodbye” and to honor him for bringing so much joy to
our lives. 

Bud is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Campbell. He is survived
by two brothers: Archie Baird and his wife, Geraldine of Cordell and Albert Baird
and his wife Ruth of Las Cruces, NM; one sister-in-low, Marie Baird of the Cordell
Christian Home; one niece, Guynell Baird of Cordell; four nephews, Ed Baird and
his wife Frances of Cordell, J.C. Baird and wife Judy of Oklahoma City, Al Baird
and his wife Gloria of California and Charles Baird of Beaumont, TX. And
numerous friends, relatives and brothers and sisters in Christ.