Obituary of Raymond C. Baird Jr.
Raymond C. Baird Jr. (80) longtime St. Maries, ID area resident passed away at Kootenai Health on September 30, 2024. He was born to Raymond Baird Sr. and Evelyn Sargent on November 5, 1943, in Middlebury, VT. Raymond grew up in Vermont and attended school there. During his junior year of high school, he left his schooling behind to enlist in the U.S. Navy. Raymond went through brutal and extensive training to serve in special forces as a Navy SEAL, serving 2 tours in Vietnam and missions on the USS Forrestal and USS Ranger.
When Raymond was honorably discharged, he lived off the land for a few years ending up in Oregon. It was there he went to work on a ranch and met Helen Dobranski. The couple married on December 12, 1976, in Mendon, VT and made their home in Vermont. Over the years Raymond worked as a Heavy Equipment Operator, Carpenter, Logger, Mechanic, and Electrician. He was a Jack of All Trades and mastered just about anything he tried to do. On a whim, he met Charlie Harpole when he ended up in St. Maries for a brief time when the family was looking to locate North of Coeur d’ Alene. Charlie introduced him to the St. Maries and Calder areas. He fell in love and relocated his family to Calder, later ending up the St. Maries River 14 years later. Raymond built both of the family homes by himself.
Always seeking to learn, Raymond could find an answer to any question. Living in a generation prior to cell phones, he frequented the library and was an avid reader having his own impressive collection of books. He also enjoyed fishing, gardening, reading, hunting, trapping, canning meat and vegetables, and whittling wood. Some of his creations, which most were small totem poles, are displayed in museums near and far, the furthest being in Europe. Raymond was also talented when it came to writing poetry, having a few that have been published. However, the most important things in Raymonds life were his love for the Lord and his family. He possessed strong faith and was an honest and humble man. Raymond also loved being with his family, specifically when his grandchildren and great-grandchildren came along.
Raymond is survived by his wife Helen at their home in St. Maries; children Draygo (Amber) Baird of Roseburg, OR, Misha Huddleston of Plummer, ID, Raylen (Brinda) Baird of Fernwood, ID, Damie Chappell (Bill Badgley) of Fernwood, ID, Jeremy Baird of Reno, NV, and Mariah (Bill) Chappell of St. Maries, ID; his sister, Karen Collins; and his brothers Frank Sargent and Christopher Sargent all of Tennessee. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Donna, brothers Phil and Bruce, and his son-in-law Perry Huddleston.
Military honors will be presented for Raymond at a later date.
