Obituary for Katherine L. Bird
Katherine Laverne Bird, age 93, passed away in Childress, Texas, on July 23, 2021.
Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 26, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church in Childress, Texas with Lou Ellerbrook officiating. Burial will immediately follow in the Childress Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be held Sunday, July 25, 2021, from 6-8 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home.
Laverne was born on February 3, 1928, to Marion Asbury and Kittie Ann Seay in Childress, Texas. As a small child, she moved with her family several times before settling in Childress. She graduated from Childress High School in 1945. She then began a job with the Texas Highway Department where she worked until 1951. During that time, she met her future husband, Richard D. Bird, a young attorney in Childress. Richard often told the story that one day while working in a second story office off of Childress Main Street and looking out the window, he noticed a beautiful young lady walking across the street and going into the office next door of an elderly attorney. Richard later went down to the attorney’s office and asked the young secretary, Fern Smith, who the young lady was that came in the office earlier. She replied, it was her younger sister, Laverne Seay. Later that day, Fern introduced Richard to Laverne, and they were married a year later, on February 10, 1950, in a private ceremony.
Laverne was an active member of The First United Methodist Church where she served as a Sunday School teacher and held various offices in both her Sunday School Class and the Methodist Women’s Fellowship Circle.
She was also a member of the Childress Hospital Auxiliary, member of the Eastern Star, selected Queen of the Old Settlers Rodeo, and volunteered her time and services in the church and community whenever needed.
Laverne truly enjoyed God’s gift of nature. She loved to swim, vacation with her family to various interesting places, and found happiness outdoors, especially while working in her yard.
May we find great comfort in the fact that she is united with those she joins in heaven: her husband of seventy-one years, Richard D. Bird, her devoted parents, Marion and Kittie Seay, her brothers, Jack and Roy Seay, her sister Fern Smith, as well as many close relatives and dear friends.
She is survived by her daughter, Debra Brown and husband Keith Brown of Austin, daughter, Susan Rabe and husband Dale Rabe Sr. of Austin, Son, Steven R. Bird and wife Laura Bird of Childress, her nine grandchildren, Heather Eaves and husband Jason of Austin, Ryan Brown and wife Mandy of Austin, Candice Deyerle and husband Scott Deyerle of Austin, Dale Rabe, Jr. and wife Lori of Childress, Kathy Kull and husband Jimmy of Austin, Brandon Rabe and wife Vanessa of Austin, Sean Rabe and wife Jessica of Austin, Jessica Boedeker and husband Luke of Childress, and Andrew S. Bird of Childress. Laverne was blessed with many great-grandchildren as well. They include Kyle, Kailey and Brett Eaves; Tyler, Lexi and Chance Brown; Elizabeth and Michael Deyerle; Savannah, Drake and Max Rabe; James, Audrey, Jack and Winslow Kull; William and Katherine Rabe; Brooks and Madeline Rabe; and Hartlee, Hudson, and Baby Boedeker, arriving soon.
Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 26, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church in Childress, Texas with Lou Ellerbrook officiating. Burial will immediately follow in the Childress Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be held Sunday, July 25, 2021, from 6-8 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home.
Laverne was born on February 3, 1928, to Marion Asbury and Kittie Ann Seay in Childress, Texas. As a small child, she moved with her family several times before settling in Childress. She graduated from Childress High School in 1945. She then began a job with the Texas Highway Department where she worked until 1951. During that time, she met her future husband, Richard D. Bird, a young attorney in Childress. Richard often told the story that one day while working in a second story office off of Childress Main Street and looking out the window, he noticed a beautiful young lady walking across the street and going into the office next door of an elderly attorney. Richard later went down to the attorney’s office and asked the young secretary, Fern Smith, who the young lady was that came in the office earlier. She replied, it was her younger sister, Laverne Seay. Later that day, Fern introduced Richard to Laverne, and they were married a year later, on February 10, 1950, in a private ceremony.
Laverne was an active member of The First United Methodist Church where she served as a Sunday School teacher and held various offices in both her Sunday School Class and the Methodist Women’s Fellowship Circle.
She was also a member of the Childress Hospital Auxiliary, member of the Eastern Star, selected Queen of the Old Settlers Rodeo, and volunteered her time and services in the church and community whenever needed.
Laverne truly enjoyed God’s gift of nature. She loved to swim, vacation with her family to various interesting places, and found happiness outdoors, especially while working in her yard.
May we find great comfort in the fact that she is united with those she joins in heaven: her husband of seventy-one years, Richard D. Bird, her devoted parents, Marion and Kittie Seay, her brothers, Jack and Roy Seay, her sister Fern Smith, as well as many close relatives and dear friends.
She is survived by her daughter, Debra Brown and husband Keith Brown of Austin, daughter, Susan Rabe and husband Dale Rabe Sr. of Austin, Son, Steven R. Bird and wife Laura Bird of Childress, her nine grandchildren, Heather Eaves and husband Jason of Austin, Ryan Brown and wife Mandy of Austin, Candice Deyerle and husband Scott Deyerle of Austin, Dale Rabe, Jr. and wife Lori of Childress, Kathy Kull and husband Jimmy of Austin, Brandon Rabe and wife Vanessa of Austin, Sean Rabe and wife Jessica of Austin, Jessica Boedeker and husband Luke of Childress, and Andrew S. Bird of Childress. Laverne was blessed with many great-grandchildren as well. They include Kyle, Kailey and Brett Eaves; Tyler, Lexi and Chance Brown; Elizabeth and Michael Deyerle; Savannah, Drake and Max Rabe; James, Audrey, Jack and Winslow Kull; William and Katherine Rabe; Brooks and Madeline Rabe; and Hartlee, Hudson, and Baby Boedeker, arriving soon.