MILDRED GENEVA STEELE BAIRD

Mildred Geneva Steele Baird, 91, of Brookline Station, MO and formerly of Norborne, MO died peacefully on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, MO.
Mildred was born on November 20, 1925 to William Leonard and Ruth (Cox) Steele. She married Ron Baird also of Norborne. He preceded her in death on September 16, 1999, as well as her oldest daughter Ronna Sommers of Fordland, MO on May 2, 2016.
Mildred is survived by; daughter Leigh Ann Tanner-Saratoga, California (husband Chris) and their children Allison and Alexander; son Bill Baird-Springfield, Missouri (wife Paula) and their son Michael; daughter Lisa Gray- Potsdam, New York (husband Andrew) and their daughters Hannah and Hayley; son-in-law Mike Sommers-Fordland; granddaughter Jennifer Stewart (husband Chris) - Apple Valley, Minnesota and their children Katie and Dylan; granddaughter Emily Sommers and her daughter Abigail Owens-Fordland.
Mildred also leaves behind her caretaker family, Noelle Caylor and her children Krystal, Zachary, and Hannah Thorn (husband Tony).
Mildred grew up in Norborne, Missouri the only daughter of Leonard and Ruth Cox Steele where Leonard was the owner and proprietor of Steele's Café and Steele's Appliances. She was an outstanding classical pianist and was the passionate owner of a 1946 Steinway Grand Piano that was purchased for her by her father Leonard; she continued to play this piano up until her death. She was the organist and pianist for the Methodist Church and later the First Baptist Church of Norborne and was baptized in that church the same time as her daughter Leigh Ann. She married Ronald Baird April 13, 1947 at her family home on 4th Street in Norborne and worked to help him through Veterinary school at the University of Missouri at Columbia. He had a large animal practice in the Norborne area until the early 1970s when they relocated to Springfield, Missouri. Mildred's home and heart will always be in Norborne.
Ron was an avid tool and hammer collector and they made many wonderful friends while collecting.
The family suggests memorial contributions for her love of the piano be made to: newschoolofmusic.org Steinway Piano Fund (online) or New School of Music (Steinway Piano Fund), 25 Lowell Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Thurman Funeral Home in Norborne. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Thurman Funeral Home in Norborne. Inurnment will follow in Fairhaven Cemetery in Norborne. Online condolences may be left on our website at www.thurmanfuneralhome.com