Leah Estelle Bird

Leah Estelle Horton Bird, of McLoud, OK, age 79, was born on January 16, 1926, in Pauls Valley, OK. She was the daughter of Henry & Marie Bonnett Horton. She passed away on February 8, 2005, in McLoud, OK. Leah graduated from Pauls Valley High School in the early 1940?s. After graduation, she worked at Tinker Air Force Base as a keypunch operator. In 1946, she and George Bird were married in McLoud, OK. She attended Oklahoma Baptist University where she received her Bachelor?s Degree. While teaching at McLoud and Shawnee schools, she obtained her Masters D egree from the University of Oklahoma. She also worked in Bird?s Department Store in McLoud, and then went into free lance writing. Leah wrote a weekly article for the McLoud News and the Shawnee News Star for many years. She was a member of the Eastern Star Chapter #193, Retired Teachers Association, and the First Baptist Church of McLoud where she played the organ for many years. She was also an officer of the local AARP Chapter. Leah loved reading, writing and China painting. Leah was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Howard and Lawrence Horton and a sister, Kay Ogan. Survivors include her husband, George Bird, McLoud, OK; 1 sister, Bernadine Strong, Denton, TX; lots of nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends. Services will be held 10:00 A.M., Friday, February 11, 2005, at the First Baptist Church of McLoud, McLoud, OK, with Rev. Ernest Graham, Rev. Brad Wood and Rev. Bill Derrick officiating. Interment will follow at Dale Cemetery, Dale, OK. Services are under the direction of Smith~Parks Funeral Service in Harrah, OK,