Laird Barnard

Laird Jantz Barnard was born May 1, 1928 in Enid to Pearl Jantz and Kenneth Barnard.  Most of his boyhood was on the farm north of Carrier that his Grandmother Barnard had purchased from her brother for a team of horses, a wagon and $200.00.  He attended school at Carrier where he played baseball and boxed.  He graduated from Carrier in 1946.  In summers he helped with farming, learned the skills and love of the land, which would lead him to choose agriculture as a career.

Just before graduation in May of 1946, Laird enlisted in the Infantry and was sent to Ft. Belvoir, Virginia for his basic training, then to Japan with the 24 ^th Infantry. Thirteen months later, Sgt. Barnard was discharged at Fort Lewis, Washington.  Interrupted educational plans were resumed by enrollment at Oklahoma A & M College as an agronomy major.  At this point, Laird met an Enid girl who was attending Texas Christian University, Naoma Jean Crews.  They dated for a year before he presented her with an engagement ring on July 4 ^th .  They were married on September 1 ^st .  The next three winters were spent in Stillwater where Laird earned a B.S. in Agronomy and a commission in the infantry.  During summers, he began acquiring machinery and farming land.

December 7, 1951, James Laird Barnard was born in Enid.

August,1952, the family moved to Fort Benning, Georgia where Laird went to Infantry Officers training.  January of 1953 he was sent to Fort Ord, California where they lived until July.  Pamela Jean Barnard was born in Carmel-by-the Sea on June 26 ^th .  The family returned to Enid and Laird again received his discharge.

Farming and ranching became Laird’s number one interest.  He continued to expand and to try innovative techniques working closely with the Extension services.  His enthusiasm for and interest in his alma mater kept him active in support of OSU athletics, particularly football.

March 13, 1958, Timothy Lee Barnard was born at St. Mary’s hospital in Enid.

November 28, 1964 Heidi Ann Barnard was born at St. Mary’s in Enid completing the dream of a family with 4 children.  After 38 years of marriage, Laird and Naoma divorced.  In his later years, he would remember those as the best years of his life.

Laird followed his passion for history by moving to Tennessee enabling him to explore Civil War history.  While in Tennessee, Laird remarried and spent his remaining years in Smithville, Tennessee.

Laird’s family continued to grow and remained important to him.

Jim Barnard and Julie Johnston Barnard gave him two grandchildren, Joshua Laird and Meredith Blake.  Josh married Karen Schneider.  Meredith gave him great granddaughter Isobel James.  All live in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Pam Barnard married Mike Ruby, living in Enid Oklahoma, added three children to the family.  Steven Michael who married Lacy Doughty and they have Maggie(Marjorie Anne) and Rett(Everett Michael) and live in Stillwater, Oklahoma.  Nan Elizabeth Ruby married Joshua Neilon Hargett and they have Micah Elizabeth and Zeke(Ezekiel Wilson).  They live in Greenwood, Arkansas.  Katelyn Jean Ruby, who married Harrison Barbarick, lives in Edmond, Oklahoma with their fur baby.

Tim Barnard married Rachel Cooper and they have Cooper Lee and Erin Naoma.  They reside in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Heidi Barnard married Anna Deligio and they reside in Niles, Illinois with their fur babies.

Laird passed away in Smithville, Tennessee on March 12, 2020.

Laird’s life was filled with ups and downs with a few ordinary days in the mix.  The constants in his life were his love of family, love of the land and love of his Country.