Laird, R. James 1894-1978

LAIRD, PEERY, NEIGER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/6/2007 at 16:42:10

R. James Laird, 83, Lifetime Resident of County, Dies

Ralph James Laird, 83, of 718 E. 5th St. N., a resident of Newton since 1954 and former farmer in the Reasnor community, died Thursday evening at Heritage Manor.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Johnson-Reese Chapel.

The Rev. Stan Wierson, associate pastor of the First United Methodist Church, will conduct services.

Masonic graveside rites by Monumental Lodge No. 311 of Galesburg will be presented at the Palo Alto Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Johnson-Reese Chapel after 7 p.m. Saturday.

Survivors are his wife, Ruth; a sister, Mrs. Fern Peery of Newton; a niece; and nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and a sister.

Mr. Laird was a member of the Monumental Masonic Lodge No. 311 AF and AM of Galesburg, White Shrine, Easter Star, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and World War I Barracks.

Mr. Laird, who was a prisoner of war at the end of World War I, had been employed at the Maytag Co. for 13 years until retiring.

The son of James and Bessie Laird, he was born July 31, 1894 at Reasnor and attended rural Reasnor schools.

He was married to Ruth Neiger Aug. 24, 1932 at Gallatin, Ill. ~ The Newton (IA) Daily News, May 1978

Transcriber note: Her obituary states her last name as Mayer and states she was married in Galenten, Mo.