Paul Samuel Laird

July 16, 1901 – March 18, 1959

Paul S. Laird, 57, died unexpectedly of a heart attack at his home in Pryor, OK, Wednesday evening, March 18, 1959.

Born July 16, 1901, north of Perry, he was the son of Samuel Elmer and Maybelle Shinn Laird. He graduated from Perry high school in 1920. He was active in DeMolay work and instrumental in the reorganization of DeMolay in Perry.

He and Eunice Craig of Pawnee were married on July 23, 1922. They lived in Oklahoma City, Pawnee, and finally settled in Pryor for the last 12 years of his life.

He was active in various civic and educational circles. In addition to being Lions club president, he was president of the Band Boosters club, Elder and Sunday school teachers in Christian church, past president of the NE district of Christian Men’s Fellowship, institutional representative Boy Scout, Girl Scout, and Brownie projects and drives, past president NE district 4 Oklahoma committee for better schools, layman advisor Oklahoma Commission Education Administration, chamber of commerce projects, past assistant DeMolay Dad Order DeMolay, advisory board Order of Rainbow Girls, member of Masonic lodge, committee member Pryor United Fund, Inc., and past president Roosevelt school P.T.A. (4 years). At the time of Laird’s death he was contemplating running for mayor of Pryor.

Laird had been with Grand River Chemical since April 1954. Previously he was associated with Foster-Wheeler Corporation, builders of the giant chemical plant. Previous to that time he had served as purchasing agent for other industries and governmental units in the state.

Survivors include his wife, Eunice; three sons, Dr. Paul C. Laird, Irving, Texas; Samuel L. Laird, Oklahoma City; Dallas L. Laird, Pryor; one daughter, Cheryl, of the home; one brother, Carl Laird, Enid; three sisters, Mrs. Leola Donley, Mrs. Katherine McQuiston, and Mrs. Marjorie Bowles, all of Perry. Five grandchildren also survive.

His parents and one sister preceded him in death.

Services were held at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the First Christian church of Pryor. Burial was at 5 p.m. in the Pawnee cemetery, Pawnee, OK.