Matilda Baird

Matilda Veronica Baird died on Sunday, June 13, 2010 at Spring Meadows Health Care Center with her son at her side. She was a devoted Catholic, loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, as well as a wonderful friend. Visitation will be from 3 – 7 pm on Friday, June 18 at the Chapel of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 709 Franklin Street, Clarksville, TN. Following visitation, she will be honored in a vigil service at 7 pm in the chapel conducted by Deacon Dominick Azzarra. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 1 pm on Saturday June 19 in the main church. Visitation will be in the church from 11 a.m. until the start of the Mass. Celebrant will be Reverend Theophilus Ebulueme with Deacon Azzarra the homilist. In accordance with her wishes, Matilda' remains were donated to the Vanderbilt Anatomical Gift Program. Interment will take place at some time in the future. Matilda was born in Melcher, Iowa on March 10, 1919. She was preceded in death by her parents, Stephen Grgurich and Marie Dernovich, and four siblings, Matthew, Cecil, and Paul Grgurich, and Bertha Bubon. Her only daughter, Michele Hatcher died on March 13, 2010. She is survived by her son Stephen and his wife Susan, Clarksville, and son-in-law Donald Hatcher, Sumter, SC. Five granddaughters Catharine (Russell) Humphrey, Franklin, TN; Allison Baird & Josh Smith, Euless, TX; Stephanie H (Rick) Blackmon, Columbia, SC; Jessica Baird, Clarksville, TN; and Adrienne Hatcher, Charleston, SC. Matilda has two great grandsons, Jack Smith and Everett Humphrey. Matilda grew up during the Great Depression and joined the Women' Auxillary Army Corps on September 1, 1943. She held positions as a telephone operator and accounts clerk and was augmented into the Women' Army Corps before her separation on December 7, 1945. The Baird family arrived in Clarksville when William Baird was assigned to the 11th Airborne in 1955. After a brief time in Germany, Matilda, Stephen, & Michele returned to Clarksville and have called it home since then. Matilda worked for the 101st Division Chaplain at Fort Campbell as the Catholic Director of Religious Education. She worked at Morgan Contractors for several years and retired from Austin Peay State University. She served as the Secretary in the Maintenance Department while holding a second job at Montgomery Ward. In addition to her family, the Catholic Church was her life and she is remembered for the time spent on her hands and knees scrubbing floors, keeping the chapel and the church spotless. Thanks to people of Immaculate Conception and the city of Clarksville for making this our home. Thanks also to all who have prayed for and with Matilda, especially during the past ten years she has been at the nursing home. A special thanks to the Rosary Group who have shared that special prayer weekly with Matilda. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception Council of Catholic Women, 709 Franklin Street, Clarksville, TN 37040 or the St. Mary' School at the same address. Arrangments in the care of McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home, (931)647-3371.