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05/29/08~02/18/03
BRIGHAM CITY<! > -J. Edwin Baird, age 94, passed away on Feb. 18, 2003, at the home of his son, Douglas, in Ashland, Oregon after a short illness.
He was born on May 29, 1908 in Brigham City, Utah. In 1933, he married Elizabeth Bradshaw Maughan of Wellsville, Utah in the Salt Lake Temple. They were married 58 years before her death in 1992.
J. Edwin was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission to West Virginia, later serving as a bishop and counselor in the South Box Elder Stake Presidency. In 1961, J. Edwin was called as president of the Southwest Indian Mission, directing missionary work among Native Americans in the Southwest and Northern Plains States for four years.
Ed enjoyed several professions in his lifetime, including: Utah State Highway Patrolman, Box Elder County Clerk, and teacher in the Church Education System. He taught seminary in Box Elder County before his appointment as Director of the Institute of Religion at the University of Wyoming. In 1959, he was appointed as the Supervisor of Indian Seminaries for the Church. He ended his career teaching institute at Weber & Utah State Universities.
After his retirement, he continued his study and research, authoring three books, and traveling extensively. J. Edwin is remembered by some as the senior citizen who climbed the Y in Provo hundreds of times. In 1997, he was one of the main characters in the Utah Centennial Committee's ad campaigns and appeared on billboards and in TV ads with many celebrities. He was known as the Cricket Man, as he portrayed the early pioneers.
When he was 80 years old, his vision dimmed. During this time, J. Edwin began to memorize dramatic impersonations which he had written on the life of his favorite historical and scriptural characters, such as; Abraham Lincoln, Alma, Paul, Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery and Moroni. Over the next decade he stirred audiences, large and small in California, Utah, Idaho and Oregon with his presentations.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth; his five sisters; Maude Merrill, Carmen Howell, Bertha Howell, Anna Smedley and Kathryn Haroldsen, and a grandson, John Erek Baird. Those of his family who remain to remember and honor him are: his three sons; Gareth Maughan (Sandra) Baird of Modesto, California; John Edwin (Janie) Baird of Provo, Utah; Douglas Frank (Christine) Baird of Ashland, Oregon, his step-sister, Emma Lee Packer of Brigham City; 16 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, March 1, 2003 in the Brigham City 11th Ward Chapel on 5th South & 2nd East. Friends may offer their respects to the family from 10:00-10:45 a.m. just before the services.
Internment will be in the Brigham City Cemetery.
Send condolences to the family at www.myers-mortuary.com