Leo Eugene "Bud" Laird

Leo Eugene "Bud" Laird, age 75, of Richmond, Kansas, went fishing with the Lord on Wednesday, April 29, 2009. Bud was born on January 26, 1934 in Pittsburg, Kansas, the son of Leo E. and Ruby Morgan Laird. Bud's father worked in the coal mines at a very early age and then worked for the railroad starting on the track gang and working his way up to retire as a Railroad Master. Consequently his parents moved quite frequently, and Bud attended schools in Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, and eventually graduated from Yates Center High School, Yates Center, Kansas, in 1951. Bud served in the United States Navy from 1952 to 1956. He was stationed at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Hutchinson, Kansas, for a couple of years and then served aboard the USS Alshain out of Norfolk, Virginia. He sailed in the Mediterranean for two years and was honorably discharged in 1956. He then attended Emporia State Teachers College from 1957 to 1960, when he received a BS in Education. On April 19, 1958, he married Marlene Collins of Piqua, Kansas. Bud started his teaching career at Lane, Kansas, in 1961 as a Math and Industrial Arts teacher. He received his MS in Counseling and Administration from Emporia State in 1963. Bud devoted much of his life to the Central Heights school system starting as a teacher, counselor, building principal, and Superintendent of Schools, retiring in 1993. Beginning in 2007, he served as a Board of Education member for about 2 years before resigning because of his health. Bud enjoyed the outdoors and lakes very much. He would always prefer to be outside rather than inside. He and his family spent many years camping and fishing lakes in Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, Canada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and even Hawaii. After his wife's retirement they purchased a home in southern Oklahoma on Texoma Lake. When they weren't fishing they completely remodeled their home and sold it after four years and bought a home on Grand Lake in northeast Oklahoma. Again, they completely redecorated that home and sold it after two years and returned to their farm at Richmond. He always had a project in the making. He was a member of St. Therese Catholic Church in Richmond; had served on the Rural Water Board; Richmond Chamber of Commerce; and belonged to many educational organizations. Bud was preceded in death by his mother and father; a sister, Barbara Harbour and her husband, Elmer; and a brother, Larry and his wife Barbara. He is survived by his loving wife Marlene Laird of the home; a devoted daughter, Marla Gadelman and husband Jerry; two sons, Terry Laird and wife Mary of Richmond, Kansas; Bruce Laird and wife Rhonda of Pomona, Kansas; Five granddaughters, Janea and Kim Gadelman, Cassie and Kirby Laird and Kinsey Laird; Two grandsons, his fishing partner Dalton and Kyle Jones; many sister and brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Central Heights Scholarship Fund that he started many years ago would be appreciated. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, on Monday, May 4, 2009 at the St. Boniface Catholic Church, Scipio, Kansas. Inurnment will follow in the St. Boniface Cemetery, Scipio, Kansas. The family will greet friends following a Rosary at 5:00 PM, and they will be present until 7:00 PM, Sunday evening at St. Boniface Church in Scipio. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com