Bonnie Baird Smith

BONNIE BAIRD SMITH OBITUARY
NORTH LOGAN, UTAH: Bonnie Leila Baird Smith, passed away peacefully at home on September 9th, 2013 due to the ravages of Alzheimer's Disease with members of her family at her side.

She was born behind the kitchen door on the family farm in Heyburn, Idaho on April 3rd 1940, the daughter of Leila Bird and Seth Baird.  She was the youngest of four siblings and the only girl.  In her early childhood years, her mission was to observe and report to her mother the actions of her three beloved big brothers. She loved farm life and enjoyed thinning and topping sugar beets, hauling hay and doing other farm work along with her brothers and father, as well as helping her mother with cooking and other housework, especially feeding the thrashers.
As a little girl, Bonnie loved music and longed to play the piano.  Since the family had no piano, Bonnie asked if she could play her brother’s old metal clarinet she found buried in a closet.  She started with that clarinet and, with a better clarinet, became first chair clarinet in the Heyburn High School band when she was in the sixth grade.   That same year, she received Superior ratings for her clarinet solo at the District and State music contests.  After transferring to Burley High School as a sophomore, Bonnie was first chair clarinetist in the BHS band and continued to receive superior ratings at the District and State Music Contests.
A dedicated and competitive student, Bonnie earned top grades in all her classes.  At Burley High, she performed in school plays and musicals and played alto sax in the Blue Knights dance orchestra.
Bonnie enjoyed 4H and participated in many projects.  Her mother was a seamstress and taught sewing to Bonnie and her friends.  At the Minidoka County Fair, Bonnie entered many homemaking competitions and was the winner of 280 blue ribbons.
In 1958, hoping to win a college scholarship, Bonnie participated in the Miss Cassia County Pageant.  She played a clarinet solo, modeled in swimsuit and evening gown and won the title, plus a scholarship.  At the Miss Idaho Pageant, Bonnie played and modeled and won the crown plus more scholarships.  In Atlantic City at the Miss America Pageant, Bonnie won the Most Talented Musician award and more scholarships.  She had succeeded in her quest and was able to go to college.
Bonnie came to Utah State University on a music scholarship and played in the USU Symphonic Band, the Symphony Orchestra and the Marching Band.  While riding on the Marching Band bus to Moscow, Idaho, Bonnie and her future husband Larry sat together and fell in love.  They dated throughout the school year and were married in the Idaho Falls Temple August 14, 1960.
Fall Quarter 1960 Bonnie attended USU but, when Larry accepted a job as music director in the Star Valley, Wyoming schools, they moved in January to Afton, Wyoming.  While in Afton, Bonnie assisted Larry with the band and was drama director for two musicals, Finnian’s Rainbow and Li’l Abner.  No. 1 son Ned was born in Afton.
In the fall of 1961, Larry became band director at Ben Lomond High School in Ogden, Utah.  Bonnie again assisted with the band and taught many aspiring young clarinetists.  She loved living in Ogden and enjoyed being a member of Sempre Musical Society, where she and the other accomplished musicians performed for each other.  While in Ogden, Bonnie was able to attend classes at Weber College.  Daughter Monica was born in Ogden.
In 1965, Bonnie and Larry’s mentor, Dr. Max Dalby, hired Larry to teach at Utah State University.  Bonnie hated to leave her dear friends in Ogden, but agreed to move back to beloved Cache Valley.  She attended classes at USU, gave clarinet lessons, and raised her family.  Sons Shane and Nate were born while we lived in Cache Valley.
Bonnie loved dressing up as a witch and terrifying unsuspecting friends and neighbors.  Her Halloween exploits are legendary.  In 1978, she organized the Fright Factory in the basement of the old knitting mills building on Main Street that was attended by thousands and raised cauldrons of money for the Heart Association.  With Ida Beutler and Nancy Israelson, she started the famed North Logan Pumpkin Walk in the Beutler’s barnyard.
Bonnie’s children were foremost on her radar.  She was their strongest advocate and made sure they were treated with respect.  She and Larry attended all the concerts, games, and gigs the kids participated in.  Known as the Tea Party Grandma, Bonnie loved being with the grandkids, and they adored her.
When the Smith Family Band was organized, Bonnie learned to play the electric bass.  The band played at the county fair and other local functions.  Larry played keyboards, Bonnie played bass, Ned (age 10) played drums and Monica (age 6) was the singer.  As the years went by and Ned moved on, Shane and then Nate played drums in the band.  The Smith family has many fond memories of making music together.
After Nate started school, Bonnie attended Utah State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1984 with a degree in Psychology.  She soon was employed as a Social Worker at Sunshine Terrace in Logan.  When an Adult Day Center was started at the Terrace, Bonnie was the director.  Using her empathy, energy and imagination, Bonnie created a program that received national recognition as a model of what adult day care could be.  In her program, the attendees participated in music therapy, occupational therapy, drama, pet therapy, special programs from local experts, exercise, games, field trips, sing-a-longs, and many more activities.  They had a ball.
Bonnie was a sought after speaker and gave presentations at many state, national and international conferences, speaking about adult day care, music therapy, Alzheimer’s care and other adult care issues.  Bonnie received several national grants and hosted two national day care conferences in Logan.  They were spectacular!
After 16 years as adult day care director, Bonnie retired in 1990.  She loved working with the elderly and felt empathy for anyone in need of comfort.
A woman of great faith, Bonnie loved the gospel and fulfilled many callings in the LDS Church.  Stake Young Women’s President (in Ogden), Primary chorister and teacher, adviser to Lambda Delta Sigma Sorority, Sunday School chorister, Relief Society Compassionate Service Leader, and ward choir director.  In whatever calling she served, she and the other participants had a good time.  She showed love to every one she came in contact with.  She will be missed by many.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years Larry, brothers Dale, Vaughn and Max Baird, son Ned (Stephanie), daughter Monica Fronk (Thom), son Shane (Andrea), and son Nate (Sherry), sixteen grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday, September 13th at the North Logan 11th Ward Chapel, 1550 East 1900 North.  A viewing will be held 6:00 to 8:00 Thursday evening at the Nelson Funeral Home, 162 East  400 North in Logan and on Friday at the church from 10:30 - 11:30 am.. Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.allenmortuaries.net