Marcia Ann Amerine Baird passed away peacefully on October 29, 2026, she blessed us with 86 years of her life. Marcia Ann Amerine Baird was born on April 25, 1940, in St. Francis, Kansas, to Harold and Betty Lane Amerine. She grew up in Belle Plaine, Kansas, where she attended school and graduated from Belle Plaine High School in 1958. She attended Kansas Teachers College in Emporia, Kansas, earning her degree in Elementary Education. It was there she met Bob Baird and they married in 1961. They were blessed with three children, Cindy, Melanie, and Ric. Teaching was more than a career for Marcia; it was a calling. Over the course of more than four decades, she touched the lives of countless students and families in communities throughout Kansas and Kentucky. Her dedication and love for her students were recognized in 1985 when she was named Teacher of the Year while teaching in the Midway-Denton School System. She retired in 1999 and continued what came natural for her, caring for others. She volunteered her time at local hospitals, the food pantry, Wellsville Elementary School and the Baldwin Public Library. She had a servant’s heart and found joy in giving her time, sharing her kindness, and making a difference in the lives of those around her.
Above all, Marcia was a woman of deep and abiding faith in Jesus. Her family was the pride and joy of her life. She treasured every moment spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Nothing brought her greater happiness than watching her family grow, celebrating their accomplishments, and simply being together. Her love for her family was constant and the memories she created with them will be cherished for generations. She had such great friends and a close relationship with her dear sister Diana Kelley and her family. She had such great care and a great alternate family at Homestead of Baldwin.
Marcia was preceded in death by her parents: Harold and Betty Lane Amerine; her brother, Lane Amerine; and her great-grandsons; Rhett Baird and Luke Messer.
She is survived by her adored sister, Diana Kelley (Steve); her children, Cindy Gerber of Arlington, Texas; Melanie Messer (Mark) of Gardner, Kansas; and Ric Baird (Anne) of Troy, Kansas. She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren: Travis Messer (Amy), Brittany Jackson, (Jason), Lindsey Campbell (Jesse), Blake Baird (Brooklyn), Cole Baird (Megan), Keenan Baird (Logan), and Ella Baird. Her precious Great-grandchildren: McKenzie and Brenden Jackson, Hadley and Bennett Messer, Quinn, Collins, and Karsyn Campbell, Vinton Baird, and Brady Baird.
Marcia’s life was a beautiful reflection of the things that matter most: faith, family, love, and kindness. She leaves behind a legacy not only in the many students she taught and the lives she touched, but also in the family she loved so dearly and the example she set for all who knew her. Though she will be deeply missed, her family finds comfort in knowing that she is now at home with her savior and not suffering anymore.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 14th @ 10 a.m. at Lighthouse Baptist Church. Memorial donations may be made to: Lighthouse Baptist Church, PO Box 787, Baldwin City, KS 66006.
Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence is handling arrangements.
