Essie Lee Havard Laird

Essie Lee Laird, 92, of Lufkin, the daughter of Lettie (Johnson) and Charles G. Havard, was born October 22, 1917 in the Prairie Grove Community. She passed away September 18, 2010 surrounded by her family at Parkwood Place.

Mrs. Laird was an active member of Harmony Hill Baptist Church for more than 60 years and was very active in her Ladies Sunday School Class. Her priorities in life were her walk with Christ and her family. She was also very passionate about gardening and working with her flowers in her yard, gaining the admiration of many.

Mrs. Laird was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, W. B. (Barney) Laird; daughter, Audrey Hinson; and sister, Effie Richardson.

Survivors include one daughter, Oma Jean Jacks and her husband, Robert Jacks; grandchildren, Bobby Jacks and wife Debbie of Lufkin, Dr. Randal Jacks and wife Callie of New Braunfels, Becky Jacks Loving of Lufkin, Dennis Hinson of Lufkin, Karen Schmidt and husband Tom Schmidt of Fairview, TX; great-grandchildren, Tara Stephenson, Justin Jacks, Jordan and Ben Jacks, Kayla Daniels, Emily and Brittney Loving, Audrey and Owen Hinson, Taylor, Brittany and Jacob Schmidt; 9 great-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, O. B. Laird and wife Faye Laird of Houston; sister-in-law, Nathalea Parrott of Killeen; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Parkwood Place for their many years of care to "Miss Essie", and to the nurses of Heart 2 Heart Hospice for their supportive care.

Expressions of sympathy in her memory may be made to Harmony Hill Baptist Church, 2708 S. Chestnut Drive, Lufkin, TX 7590; or Heart 2 Heart Hospice, 1320 S. John Redditt Drive, Lufkin, TX 75904.

Services for Mrs. Laird will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 22, 2010 in the Gipson Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. John Greene officiating. Interment will follow in the Whitehouse Cemetery.

Friends are invited to visit with the family from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at Gipson Funeral Home.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com.

Gipson Funeral Home; directors