Clifford P. Baird

Clifford P. Baird

April 20, 1940 - December 9, 2022
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Clifford's Obituary

Clifford P. Baird, Jr., 82, died on December 9, 2022, of natural causes surrounded by family. A funeral service with military honors will be Saturday, January 7, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at the Church of the Incarnation (600 3rd Ave. N.) Cliff’s cremains are to be interred at the church’s columbarium and also at Highland Cemetery in the veterans’ section.

The second child of Clifford P Baird, Sr. and Eleanor H Baird, Cliff was born in Abington, PA, on April 20, 1940. He grew up in New Jersey, graduating from North Plainfield High School in 1959. He enlisted in the Navy following graduation and served his country on a submarine for four years, on the USS Barbell.

He married Jeanette M Cloutier of Worcester, MA. Together they had three children. Upon completing his Navy service in 1962, he joined the family’s International Harvester Dealership, Baird Farm Supply, Inc. in Piscataway, NJ, as a lead mechanic. He was also the general manager of the company from 1979, until his retirement in 1990. In 1990, he and his wife and their two younger children packed up their North Plainfield, New Jersey home and moved to Great Falls, Montana to be closer to their oldest daughter and her family. Their new home needed much outdoor TLC, and over time their backyard became an oasis.

Not one for an idle retirement, Cliff soon signed on at Albertson’s as a front-end courtesy clerk. He referred to himself as a “shopping cart engineer” and enjoyed visiting with his customers and colleagues until fully retiring in 2009. Cliff had many hobbies and interests. During the holidays, he loved baking many different kinds of cookies. He and Jeanette loved all the decorations of Christmas, making their home the place to be for the holidays. Cliff honed his pizza making skills to perfection. His pizzas were highly appreciated in the neighborhood. He also enjoyed creative endeavors, including painting ceramic figurines, pouring candles, creating stained glass, woodworking, and landscaping in the family’s yards. Cliff had a great love for trains and could often be caught watching trains on his phone. He enjoyed learning all he could about his family ancestry and was fiercely proud of his Scottish heritage.

In 2011, Cliff and Jeanette joined the Church of the Incarnation. They were very active in the church. Cliff served on the Vestry, Memorial Foundation and was a FISH volunteer. He loved helping out in the church kitchen for holiday dinners or pancake suppers on Shrove Tuesday. He served as an acolyte on many Sundays, a service he greatly loved. Cliff was a member of the Submarine Veterans Association Montana Base. He loved being with the other sub vets and even tracked down others who served with him. He was a member of the Holland Club, a United States Submarine Veterans honor, that is made up of veterans qualified in submarines for 50 years or more. He was truly proud of his time in the Navy and loved our great nation with all his heart.

Survivors include his wife, Jeanette; oldest daughter, Robin Baird Hometchko, and son, Clifford P. “Tip” Baird III, all of Great Falls; and daughter, Cheryl Baird of Tampa, Florida. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, James David “JD” Hometchko of Jacksonville, NC, Tabitha Hometchko of Denver, CO, Jaycee Baird Howells of Manhattan, MT and David Brown of Great Falls; and two great-grandchildren, Jesse Smith and Andrew Hometchko. He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Patricia Baird Siebert. Memorials and donations can be made to Dog Tag Buddies at www.dogtagbuddies.org The service will be recorded and uploaded to the Schnider Funeral Home Facebook page.

Funeral Service

Episcopal Church of the Incarnation
  • Email Details
  • 600 3rd Avenue North
    Great Falls, Montana

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