Vearl Nadine Baird, 88, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016, at her Love Lake Ranch in Taylor following a short illness. 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. Nadine, as she was known, was born on Friday, June 22, 1928, in Taylor to 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 1946. 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, N.M. 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 Oct. 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. Survivors include her four children, Charlie (Cloe) Baird of the Ft. Worth, Texas, area, Dixon (Tish) Baird of Mesa, Bob (Mary) Baird of Love Lake, and Jolene Baird of Love Lake; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Along with her parents and husband, Nadine was preceded in death by all of her 11 brothers and sisters. Memorial contributions, in her name, to The White Mountain Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 1975, Lakeside, Ariz. 85929, have been suggested by her family. Owens Livingston Mortuary-White Mountain Chapel in Show Low was in charge of the arrangements.
