RACHEL BAIRD

Longtime Houston resident, Rachel Baird, 67, lost her battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease July 24, 2010, with her family and friends by her side. She died peacefully at home.

Rachel was born May 29, 1943, in Bad Axe, Mich., to Dr. Roy R. Gettel and Helen L. (Judd) Gettel. She graduated from Bad Axe High School in 1961 and Michigan State University with a B.A. degree in elementary education in 1966.

She met Tom Baird at MSU and the couple was married in Lansing, Mich., Dec. 18, 1965. After graduation, her husband entered the U.S. Army as an infantry officer and she accompanied her husband all over the world. The couple resided twice in Germany and also various military posts throughout the United States. While stated in Bamberg, Germany, in the mid 1960s, their first child was born in the military hospital in Nurnberg. Just prior to giving birth she received Jesus into her heart and became a Christian.

One of their last military assignments was Fort Richardson. They fell in love with Alaska and took up residence in Houston in 1986. They initially attended Willow Chapel and under the instruction of the Holy Spirit, eventually transferred to Houston Hilltop Assembly of God.

Rachel loved to write letters, cards and notes, and she always made sure everyone from church, as well as friends and family, received a birthday card, anniversary card, congratulations card, memorial card or a kind note. She continued to write cards up until the very late days of her life here on Earth. In fact, several received cards after her passing.

Rachel was deeply involved with her Christian missionary ministry of Christian Pilots Association of Alaska from 1986 until 2008, where she ran a food bank pantry out of her home for 22 years, provided hospitality, housing and tender care to many missionaries, pastors, families, friends and strangers. Her home was always open, sometimes lodging and feeding up to 27 at a time.

Her hospitality was known all her married life. She was also active in Officers Christian Fellowship, where she hosted many Bible studies.

She was chief editor and mailer of the Christian Pilot Monthly Newsletter and Project Little Lamb Newsletter. She was very active in The Gideon’s Auxiliary, District 15 Republican Party, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans Aviation Outreach and Vietnam Veterans Chapter 903.

She was in charge of the home front when her husband was on week-long missionary or commercial flights, but she drew the line on tending the coal furnace with its large ash pan when she stepped out the back door with her arms full holding the pan and literally came nose-to-nose with a moose.

“That’s when we converted to oil,” says her husband.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas F. Baird of Houston; sons, Thomas W. Baird of Big Lake, Steven R. Baird of Wasilla and Christopher A. Baird of Citrus Heights, Calif.; daughter, Elizabeth R. Rawls of Tallahassee, Fla.; and granddaughters, Rachel A. Rawls and Maya E. Rawls of Tallahassee, and Lily S. Baird of Citrus Heights; sister, Gretchen Birkbeck of Grand Rapids, Mich.; and brother, Dr. Roy Gettel of Tucson, Ariz.

Rachel’s request was that donations be made to Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 873511, Wasilla, AK 99687.

A graveside service will be held in her memory at Ft. Richardson National Cemetery on Aug. 11 at 1 p.m. Anyone attending the graveside service must be at the gate no later than 12:40 p.m. Please pull into the parking lot and line up on the back curb. If you will be going with the procession, there is no need to check in at the gate.

A celebration of life and potluck will be at 4 p.m. at Houston Hilltop Assembly of God, Mile 59.7 Parks Highway.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.