Obituary of Louise G. Baird

Margaret Louise Greene was born April 29, 1925 in Bethel, North Carolina. She was the fourth of seven children of the late Dayton and Lula Greene. Louise graduated from Cove Creek High School in the class of 1942 where she played basketball, as did her sisters. Louise was active in the Girls Auxiliary and later taught other GAs at Cove Creek Baptist Church. Louise married Bennie J. Baird on March 17, 1945, at the Cove Creek Baptist Church parsonage. They lived in the Cove Creek community before moving to Brushy Fork (Vilas) in 1957. Louise opened her heart and home to family and neighbors. A faithful and devoted member of Cove Creek Baptist Church Since 1938. Louise was most recently a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class and the Womens Missionary Union. Louise was also active in the Home Demonstration Club of Watauga County, where she served as President. Louise was always ready and willing to lend a hand in her community. When there was a need, Louise was one of the first to arrive, usually bearing her delicious and lovingly prepared dishes, a bouquet of fresh flowers, and sometimes a few rolls of paper towels and toilet paper, just in case. Louises greatest joy was her family. After her children were in upper grades, Louise accepted a job as a Home Health Visitor under the guidance of Watauga County Health Department. For two years, Louise and her childhood friend, Grace Vannoy, devoted themselves to educating other mothers about how to provide proper nutrition and care for their families. These two brave women shared many adventures, climbed fences and crossed streams to places that most of wouldnt dare go, and oh how they loved to tell those stories. In 1969, Louise accepted a position as Assistant Secretary at Hardin Park Elementary School, working closely with Carolyn Austin, the two would become the dearest of friends. During her twenty-two years of service, Louise made many wonderful friends and was honored with a special retirement celebration in 1991. Louises generosity, kindness and great sense of humor have blessed countless lives. She lived with grace, dignity, courage, unbelievable resilience, a witty sense of humor and joy. Family and friends have been blessed to share her love, her laughter, her triumphs, her joy, and tears throughout the years. Louise loved music and often joined friends on Friday nights as they gathered to hear familiar melodies at the Old Reed Store. One of her favorite songs was The Tennessee Waltz, to which she could glide across the dance floor with great ease. Louise had a lively spirit and her strong will to live was apparent after surviving breast cancer twice, the loss of her son, Gerald, and numerous illnesses. Louise considered every day a blessing. Louise was affectionately known as Eezie by her beloved nieces and nephews who brought so much joy to her life. Thank you Theresa and Kevin, Charlie and Tracy, Boyd and Emily, Heather and Josh, Christian, Collin, Lawson and Connor, Bill and Ron Ehlers, David, Tommy and Dennis Greene. Louise leaves to cherish her memory: son, Kenneth Baird of Mountain City, TN, and Daughter, Barbara Balsamo (husband Shep) of Leesburg, VA; two sisters, Nan Greene and Mary Johnson of Boone; four grandchildren, Sherry Bowman, Aaron and Travis Baird, Ashleigh Balsamo Stevens; three sisters-in-law, Marjorie Henson of Sugar Grove, Betty Sue Greene of Vilas, and Virginia Greene of Kingsport, TN; two great grandchildren, Alexis and Lawson Bowman as well as the nieces and nephews listed above. Louise was preceded in death by her husband Bennie J. Baird in 1992, her father and mother, Dayton and Lula Greene, her stillborn son, Michael Baird, son Gerald Baird, granddaughter, Brooke Balsamo, sister Floy Ehlers, and brothers, Burl, Paul and Charles Bud Greene. Funeral services for Louise Baird will be conducted Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 2:30 PM at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home prior to the service from 1:30 until 2:30. Entombment will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Seby Jones Regional Cancer Center, PO Box 2600, Boone, NC 28607. Online condolences may be shared with the Baird family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Baird family.