Ronald Ray Baird was born September 9, 1946 to Thomas and Laverne (Brown) Baird in Newton, KS. He passed away 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 and graduated from Remington High School in 1965. While there, he lettered in football (#60) and was selected as an all-league lineman.
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 Asbury 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 to 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 and 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.
For those of you who knew Ron best, you will remember his shortened sermons on Broncos Sundays, his boisterous laugh, his huge bear hugs, and his ways that he showed that he loved you. He was lovingly known by his grandchildren as “Don Daird”.
Ron is survived by his wife, Kathy and children David (Kelli), Angela, and Mark. Their loving
family includes grandchildren; Jordan, Emily (Noah), Caleb (Alina), Bethany, Joshua (Bailey),
Gabe (Ava), Gavin, and Charlie. Ron also leaves behind brothers; Steve, Herb, and Mike. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Dick.
The Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 26th at 2:00 at the Deer Park United Methodist Church. Also, a Celebration of Life will be held at the Meadowood Free Methodist Church in Aurora, CO on Saturday, May 31st at 3:00 pm. A private family inurnment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery in Spokane, WA.
