Verna Baird Percell

VERNA BAIRD PERCELL Funeral services for longtime Cortez resident Verna Baird Percell will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 11 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, M Road Chapel. Interment will follow at Cortez Cemetery. Bishop Gary Tanner will conduct. Visitation has been scheduled for Friday morning from 9 a.m. to service time at the church. Verna was born on June 4, 1915 in Kline, Colo. the daughter of James Alexander Baird Sr. and Sarah Daphne (Maxwell) Baird. She passed away on Monday, December 7, 2009 at her residence at the age of 94. On June 4, 1936, Verna married Walter Robert Percell in Bayfield, Colo. Verna was a member of the Mildred Friendship Club and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was a charter member of DAR and Verna was active in 4-H. For 20 years Verna shared her writing talents with the community in the news piece, "Mildred News" that appeared in the Cortez Journal. In her free time, Verna enjoyed crocheting, knitting, gardening, canning, quilting, fishing and spending time outdoors. Surviving Verna are her children, Walter Baird Percell and wife, Ann of Heber City, Utah, Shirley Percell of Cortez, Ingrid Black and John Vakarietis of Buena Vista, Colo., and Larry Percell and wife, Kim of Cortez; six grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren. Verna also leaves behind her siblings, June Frame of Aztec, N.M. and Frank Baird of Grand Junction, Colo.; and her sister-in-law, Darline Baird of Aztec, N.M. She was preceded in death by her parents; by her husband, Walter Percell; by her siblings, Walt, Brant, and Dick Baird, Laura Whitson, Janie Hillyer, Blanche Baird, Ora Lee Page, Henrieta Harrison, Gertrude Harrison, Wilmerth "Billie" Baird; by her grandson, Kevin Lee Percell; and by her son-in-law, Dale Black. Memorial contributions may be made in Verna�s name to Hospice of Montezuma, P.O. Box 740 Cortez, Colo. 81321.