Baird, C.L.   	

Funeral services for C.L. Baird, 87, of Longview, will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, 
April 24, 2007, at Welch Chapel with Bro. Darrell Mock officiating. Burial 
will follow in Lakeview Cemetery. Mr. Baird died Saturday, April 21, 2007, 
at his home.

Clarence Baird was born September 23, 1919, in Carnegie, Oklahoma. Known to 
his friends and family as "C.L.," he always said he got to Texas as quick 
as he could.

He was 2 years old when his family moved to Texas, living in Dallas for a 
short time before moving to Longview. He graduated from Longview High School 
and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II in Italy. Upon 
returning to Longview after the war, he married his high school sweetheart, 
Marjorie Ann Nation.

Most folks will remember C.L. from the furniture store, Baird's Appliance 
and Furniture. C.L. never met anyone he didn't call friend, and he had the 
most forgiving, loving nature that he shared with everyone. C.L. established 
a lifetime interest in community activities including Campfire Girls, Boy 
Scouts, P.T.A., Pilot Club, and extensive church activities with Longview 
First Baptist Church. He was always quick to volunteer his time and energy 
to whatever task was at hand.

Although C.L. and Ann were familiar faces at First Baptist Church, he did 
not accept the Lord as his savior until he was 84. His conversion and 
profession of faith greatly affected those around him as he attended 
Mobberly Baptist Church, where he was baptized.

His unique ability to build, repair, or generally fix things led everyone to 
coin the phrase,"Give it to C.L., he can fix anything." His skill and love 
of technology and electronics served to keep him in constant amazement of 
this world and he often stated, "I hope I can stay around a little bit 
longer; I can't wait to see what they'll come up with next!" Young at heart, 
optimistic, family oriented and worldly wise, he described himself as a "jack 
of all trades and master of none." He believed and followed the Golden Rule 
and treated everyone like family. This is how we will remember C.L. Baird.

C.L. was preceded in death by his parents, I.E. and Harriett Jones Baird; and 
his loving wife, Ann.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughter and son-in-law, Suzi and Wesley 
Donley of Longview; son, Robert K. Baird of Highland Village, Texas; 
grandchildren, Samantha Baird, Jaysan H. Donley, Jon R. Donley, Myranda 
Husers and Joshua Donley; and great-grandchildren, Colin Donley, Nicholas 
Donley, Jordan Donley and Jared Donley.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5-7 this evening. 

An online registry may be signed at www.news-journal.com, by clicking on the 
obituaries link.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 4/23/2007.

--------------------

Baird, C.L.   	

Services for C.L. Baird, 87, of Longview, will be 1 p.m. today, April 24, 
2007, at Welch Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Darrell Mock officiating. 
Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery. Mr. Baird died April 21, 2007, at 
his residence.

Born September 23, 1919, in Carnegie, Okla. he served in the U.S. Army Air 
Corps during World War II, owned Baird's Appliance and Furniture, and 
attended First Baptist and Mobberly Baptist churches. Survivors include his 
daughter Suzi Donley; and son, Robert K. Baird.

An online registry may be signed at www.news-journal.com, by clicking on 
the obituaries link.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 4/24/2007.