Pearl Laird

Virginia Pearl Sanders Laird, 99, of Dubois, beloved mother, grandmother, and sister, peacefully passed away on January 14, 2011. She was born August 26, 1911 in Rexburg, Idaho, to Charles and Sarah Howell Sanders, the third of five children. Her family lived in Lima, Montana and Rexburg where she attended elementary school. Her family moved to Hamer where she graduated from Hamer High School in 1928. She attended Palmer Business College in Idaho Falls and worked in a law office until her marriage to J. Albert Laird. Abb and Pearl married on November 15, 1933 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. Abb passed away on July 23, 1997. During their 63 years of marriage, they resided in Dubois, Idaho and raised three boys. For many years, she helped her husband in their livestock business as bookkeeper and cooked for the lambing and haying crews. She served as Treasurer of the former Independent School District #4 and then as clerk for the Board of Trustees of Clark County School District #161 for over 28 years. For 36 years, she worked as secretary at an insurance agency in Dubois for agents H.R. Harn, Wayne Smith, Barry Hoopes and David Leonardson. She retired in 1991 at the age of 80. She generously served in the community and was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Pearl was a very devoted wife and happily supported Abb in his Clark County Commissioner position. They traveled together to Hawaii, Iceland, China and to many European countries. They also enjoyed square dancing and reading. Pearl loved the summers that the family spent in Island Park, Idaho where their sheep and cattle grazed. They became friends with other ranchers and enjoyed picnics, reunions, fishing, camping and boating. She loved spending time with her brother and three sisters. They were a tight-knit group of siblings. The family nicknamed them “The Fabulous Five”. Her family remembers what a wonderful cook and hard worker she was. Her cookie drawer was always stocked for grandkids and her yard and big tulip patch always looked beautiful. She is survived by three daughter-in-laws, Ellen Laird of Dubois, Jolene Laird of Logan, Utah and Marjorie Laird of Rexburg; sister, Sarah Smith of Wendell; brother, Reese Sanders of Hamer; 14 grandkids; 28 great-grandkids and three great-great grandkids. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, J. Albert “Abb”; sons, Joe, Eldon and Kent; sisters, Ruth Barnes and Ruby Landon; daughter-in-laws, Jan Laird and Ethel Laird. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at the Beaver Creek LDS Ward, 471 East 2nd South in Dubois. The family will visit with friends on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Dubois Cemetery.

Funeral Services

Wednesday January 19, 2011 , 1:00 p.m. at Beaver Creek LDS Ward

The family will visit wtih friends on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Dubois Cemetery.

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