Ronald Ray Baird was born September 9, 1946, to Thomas and Laverne (Brown) Baird in Newton KS. He passed away on January 22, 2025, at his beloved home on the Pend Oreille River, near Usk
WA. Ron grew up in a rough and tumble home, the 4th of 5 brothers, Dick, Steve, Herb, Ron, and Mike. Ron attended Roosevelt Grade School, Chisholm Junior High, and graduated from Remington High School in 1965. On May 26, 1967,
Ron married Kathleen Koehn, also of Newton. Shortly after their marriage, Ron started his higher education at Central Christian College, McPherson KS. While there they welcomed their first of three children, David. After graduating
from Central, Ron went on to complete his degrees at Asbury College and Seminary in Wilmore KY, where they welcomed their second child, Angela. After completing seminary, Ron and Kathy accepted the call to Aurora CO where
they pastored the Aurora Free Methodist Church and completed their family with the birth of Mark. Now, as a family of five, they led the congregation in a building program for the new Meadowood community in Aurora. Under his
leadership, the church completed two building phases and also started the Meadowood Christian Preschool. After 14 years of ministry in Aurora, they moved to Turlock CA where Ron pastored the Turlock Free Methodist Church.
Under Ron's leadership, the church became a satellite of Turlock Christian Schools, starting a preschool at the church. Ron served on the Turlock Christian School Board for 7 years. From 1995 to 2000, he pastored the Ft
Collins Free Methodist Church and from there he answered the call to return to school to become a hospital chaplain. Ron and Kathy moved to Spokane WA where Ron completed the Clinical Pastoral Education program at Gonzaga
University. He went on to become a full-time chaplain at Providence Holy Family Hospital in Spokane, where he was lovingly known as the "Singing Chaplain". Ron retired from hospital chaplaincy in 2012 but continued
pastoring part-time at the United Methodist Church in Deer Park WA until 2023 when Ron's health no longer allowed him to continue. Ron is survived by his wife, Kathy, and children David (Kelli) of Deer Park WA, Angela
of Usk WA, and Mark of Spokane WA. Their loving family includes grandchildren; Jordan, Emily (Noah), Caleb (Alina), Bethany, Joshua (Bailey), Gabe (Ava), Gavin, and Charlie. Ron also leaves behind brothers; Steve of Bethany
OK, Herb (Karen) of McPherson KS, and Mike (Marsha) of Potwin KS. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Dick. A Celebration of Life was held on April 26th in Deer Park WA. Also, a Celebration of Life will
be held at Meadowood Free Methodist Church in Aurora CO on Saturday, May 31st at 3:00 pm. A private inurnment has taken place at Holy Cross Cemetery in Spokane WA.
