Dorothy M. Baird

is honored with a Brick from the Baird Family.

Dorothy was born in Lawrence, KS on June 24, 1910 to Flora and Philip Schneider. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Mt. Hope, KS.

When Dorothy was four years old, her mother was tragically killed in a house fire. Dorothy was spared, although her hands were severely burned. Subsequently, she was raised by her father, with help from her Aunt Anna and older sister Nancy. Dorothy was the light of her father's life. (Hence, she was quite spoiled!)

After her father's death in 1926, Dorothy moved with her sister Nancy to the northern rural part of Sedgwick County. She graduated from Valley Center High School in 1927. Almost directly after graduating, Dorothy married Vern Clifford Baird, whom she had known for several years. Vern moved his young bride to Wichita where they were married for 71 years, throughout which they raised three children and were blessed with six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Dorothy stayed at home during her children's school years to care for and nurture them. She played an active role in the community. She served on the PTA, was a member of the Eastern Star, and a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. She was also a staunch supporter of the Republican Party in Sedgwick County and the State of Kansas. (You should see her collection of elephants and political memorabilia!)

After her children were raised and out of school, Dorothy went to work outside the home. She loved having a career she could call her own. From 1951 to 1980, she headed the Sedgwick County Auto License Department. (She is still remembered there for her strong work ethic.) During that time, she also worked as an auto license and title clerk at various automobile dealerships, including Yingling and Quality Chevrolet. She became a member of various state and national auto license and title associations.

Dorothy retired from the Auto License Department of Sedgwick County in 1980 at the age of 70.

Throughout her life, her favorite pastimes were collecting antiques, attending estate sales and traveling. Her favorite destination was the mountains in Colorado. She collected bottles, Avon collectibles, glassware, elephants (of course), and numerous other favorites.

Dorothy was a driving force in her family. The dining table that served more family dinners than one could count still sits in the house where her husband Vern still lives. Those dinners were part of the "glue" of the family. The family grew too large for everyone to sit at the table and the youngest grandchildren sat at a card table. They were allowed only one black olive per finger and it was mandatory that they eat at least three green beans! It was a great day for each grandchild when they "graduated" to the "big" table.

Those dinners and family times together created a strong family unit that helped to create strong morals in all of Dorothy's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Although she is greatly missed, her memory will always live on.

August 10, 1999