David Paul Laird

David Paul Laird, of Groesbeck, peacefully went to sleep while holding hands with his wife, and went home to be with his Lord, from his earthly home near Lake Limestone, on Sunday, July 17, 2022.  He was 73.

A Celebration of Life will be planned for a later date.

David was born December 15, 1948, in Dallas to James Cleo Laird and Geneva Estelle Oliver Laird.   He grew up as the ninth child in a family with eight sisters and one brother, with plenty of sisterly attention and love, (nicknamed “Bug” by them.)  His sister Aniece was like his second mother. 

David’s father was a Pentecostal preacher, and he remembered well when all ten kids sat on the front row at church, and his father would come down to thumb him if he fell asleep.  While growing up in Dallas, David had been very athletic, and played basketball (his favorite), football (with 6 touchdowns in one game), and ran track. He said he was so good in track from the years of running fast to get away from his brother while they were playing together.  He graduated from Wilmer Hutchins High School in 1968.

David served as a reserve police officer and a volunteer fireman and he began work with the City of Dallas at the water treatment plant.  He became the Chief Operator until he retired there and then went to work for the City of Terrell as the Acting Chief Operator of their water treatment plant.   He came to the point in time of retiring from Terrell, but was asked to come back, and so he worked again until he had to finally retire from his extensive back pain and surgery.  David was very close friends with his co-workers and played on the City of Dallas dart team.

David met a cute young Highway Patrol Sergeant at Lake Tawakoni where he was living when she moved her trailer there.   David and Audrey Florence O’Leary became instant friends and from October 2013, they were beloved best friends.   David and Audrey were united in marriage on March 13, 2021, on their deck at the property they had bought near Groesbeck.  David, known as “Bug” by his family, called Audrey “Lady Bug” and they had their wedding bands engraved with “Love Bugs.” 

At Lake Tawakoni, David taught Audrey all his favorite sports of horseshoes, darts, cornhole, golfing and fishing.    They had many fun times with friends.   He enjoyed fishing at their pond at Groesbeck and had stocked it with some crappie he brought from Lake Tawakoni.   David also was talented at playing a guitar and keyboard mostly learning by ear and played at local events and weddings. After they had bought land and a cabin near Groesbeck, they had come on weekends to make it livable.  David was very handy at putting in floors and sheetrock and also taught Audrey how to do much of the work.  They moved from the lake at Quinlin to their home at Groesbeck with their dog (like a daughter) Angel in January 2020, where they endured the Covid pandemic that year, and the freeze in 2021 - which sent them to a motel for a week.    David began having more serious health problems and back pain for the past year and one-half.   Although he is now at peace, he has left his beloved wife and his family to miss him with many happy memories from his time with them.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Jimmy and Geneva Laird; his sister, Thelma Larew; brother, James Robert Laird; and sister, Martha Esselman.

He is survived by his wife, Audrey; daughter, Crystol Laird; son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Amee Johnson; son, Jason Laird; son, Michael Laird; 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.   He is also survived by his sisters: Cleo Barnhill, Esther Wilkins, Aniece Brumit, Marie Jenkins and husband Willard, Joy Franklin and husband Gary, and Judy Coggins, and several nieces and nephews.