Jack Baird

Obituary – Jack Edward Baird July 7, 1948 – March 25, 2024

Jack Edward Baird was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico July 7, 1948, to James Andrew Baird and Eda Evelyn Anderson. Young Jack spent his first couple of years on a large cattle ranch near White Sands, NM where his love of ranching, agriculture, animal husbandry, rodeo, mechanics, and storytelling began.

This way of life stuck with him in his heart, soul, and memories for 75 years whether he was on a horse or not! He was a real cowboy and lived his life according to Western values, sharing stories passed down through generations. He loved and was proud of his parents and where he came from, sharing, teaching, and leaning heavily on his upbringing that shaped his work ethic, social life and love of friends and family.

He was proud to be in 4-H,  FFA, rodeo, and Team Penning, helping fellow ranchers, a dedicated Hot Air Balloon Crew Chief, Country Western Dance Teacher, teaching kids how to handle a rope, and was an avid wood and metal worker many friends and family decorate their homes with his creative art and games, particularly using horseshoes. 

Jack served in the Army from April 24, 1968, to March 20, 1970, reaching a rank of Sergeant or "Buck Sergeant" / Spec. 5 and assigned to the American Division near Chu Lai, Vietnam as a maintenance specialist March 28, 1969, to March 20, 1970.

He was honorably discharged with National Defense Service Medal 2 O/S Bars, Vietnam Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, VCM w/60 Dev, MKM M-14. It took many years for Jack to open up about what he experienced during his service and allow others to know and appreciate his service during the Vietnam era. He gave charitable contributions to The Wounded Warrior Project.

He had a successful career in which he retired from Intel Corporation in Rio Rancho, NM in construction, traveling domestically and internationally to run decommission projects to make room for new tools and fabs for immerging technologies, becoming a self-proclaimed “High Tech Redneck.”

Jack spent his retirement years in Fort Collins, CO spending time with his daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren whom he adored. He became “Pappy” to a large group of chosen family. He taught them to seek the excitement of the outdoors and taught them skills about how to build, use tools, weld, and in general work with their hands.

Jack was preceded in death by Father James Andrew Baird, Mother Eda Evelyn Anderson Baird, and Brother Steve Andrew Baird.

Jack Baird is survived by Daughter Valorie Jean Baird (Steve Werning) of Windsor, CO and Daughter Tammy Dawn Baird (Matthew Peterson) of Fort Collins, CO.

Pappy is also survived by Grandson Andrew James Gallegos (Kristin Aguila), Brittany Leann Bollar (Kiel Bollar), Marissa Valorie Mattos and great grandchildren Adrian James Gallegos, Isaiah Daniel Gallegos, Tobias Edward Gallegos, Jaydyn Grace Foster, Kasyn Andrew Bollar, Evelyn Blake Bollar and Aspyn Rae Bollar all in Greeley, CO.

There will be a celebration of life the last weekend in June in Colorado. Please reach out to Jack’s family if you don’t receive the details by June 1st. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Wounded Warriors Project. Weno Bye and RIP Jack Baird!