Merlin L. Baird

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Merlin L. Baird, age 91, on June 8, 2025.  He was born in Mesa, Arizona on April 29, 1934.  He is a brother to Jane McAlister, a beloved father to Carolyn Whipple, David Baird, Nita Baird, and Elizabeth Halloway.  A grandfather to Lezley Alba, Megan Whipple, Devany Whipple, Justin Coogle, Lindsey Montes, Sarah Baird, Ashley Silvas and Sean Silvas. A great grandfather to Jaxon, Zoey, Zander, Eli, Wrynleigh, Agustin, and Reese.  He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Joyce Baird, son Jimmy Baird, father Lamar Baird and mother Minnie Smithy.

Merlin was a very tough, hardworking man with a love for heavy equipment and is known for loading a dump truck by hand with a scoop shovel.  He started his career at a very young age of 14 in the Coal Mines in Chama, NM, later moving to construction work with Brown and Root.  In 1959 he married the love of his life, Joyce, and moved to Red Rock, NM.  In 1960 they moved to Lordsburg, NM where they started their family and he started working at the Banner Mine.  Then he moved on to work for Phelps Dodge in Tyrone, NM where he later retired.  After retirement he didn’t know what to do with himself so he started his own business, Baird and Son Sand and Gravel.

When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed fishing, casinos, western movies, and visiting with family and friends.  Merlin is known for never meeting a stranger, he would be-friend anyone and always had interesting stories to tell.  Merlin is greatly loved and missed but his legacy will forever live on.

There will be a graveside service at Mountain View Cemetery on Saturday June 21, 2025 at 10 o’clock in the morning with Pastor Isaac Kerr officiating.  Pallbearers will be Lindsey Montes, Megan Whipple, Zane Alba, Jaxon Alba, Justin Coogle, and Charles Montes.  Honorary pallbearers are Lezley Alba, Devany Whipple, Zoey Alba, and Zander Alba.

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