Anna Jean Laird; 73; of Lynnwood; Rostraver Township; passed away Monday; June 21; 2004; in Havencrest Nursing Center. She was born in Monessen on Oct. 25; 1930; the only daughter of the late Harry and Bertha Mitchell Thomas of Belle Vernon. The late James and Florence Wilkenson Irons of Belle Vernon adopted her after her mother passed away in 1933. James Irons was a cousin of Bertha Mitchell Thomas. She attended Vernon Junior High School and was a member of the Vernon Senior High Class of 1948. In 1980 Mrs. Laird earned her Nursing Assistant Certification and worked as a Class Coordinator for Social Dimensions Institute; Inc. of Irwin. In addition; she was employed as a CNA at Hallsworth House Personal Care Home in North Charleroi during the 1980’s. She also worked many elections over the years as a Clerk at the Lynnwood Voting Precinct located in Pricedale. Mrs. Laird was a member of the Rehoboth Presbyterian Church in Rostraver Township and a member of the Women’s Tuesday Evening Civic Club of Belle Vernon. She enjoyed playing cards and belonged to numerous card clubs throughout her life. Some of her best times were spent enjoying over 40 years of summers camping in the beautiful mountains of Pennsylvania. She loved to laugh and was well known for her great sense of humor. More than anything else; she loved her family and friends up to the sky and back down all over the world; forever and ever . In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years; Wallace Laird Jr.; on June 18; 2004; two brothers: Bernard and Donald Thomas; seven half-brothers: Robert; Ralph; Kenneth; Virgil; Merle; Telford and Eugene Thomas; and four half-sisters: Phyllis; Violet; Pearl; and Mary Etta Thomas; all originally from Belle Vernon.
Mrs. Laird is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law: Gary and Sarah Laird of Cottonwood; Arizona; and Tracy and Elizabeth Laird of Concord; North Carolina; one daughter and son-in-law: Randy and Nancy Koslosky of Belle Vernon; five grandsons and three granddaughters-in-law: Bruce and Melissa Pendleton of Monessen; Ryan and Jayme Laird of Las Vegas; Nevada; Robert and Kelly Pendleton of Belle Vernon; Geoffrey Laird of Tempe; Arizona; and Erik Laird of Concord; North Carolina; three granddaughters: Rochele Laird of Las Vegas; Nevada; Amanda Pendleton of Belle Vernon; and Jennifer Laird of Concord; North Carolina; eight great-grandchildren: Chance and Cayden Laird of Las Vegas; Nevada; Tyan and Tayler Laird of Las Vegas; Nevada; Alyssa; Bruce III and Makendra Pendleton of Monessen; and Robert Pendleton II of Belle Vernon; one brother and sister-in-law: Raymond and Barbara Thomas of Tucson; Arizona; two sisters-in-law: Mrs. Bernard (Kathy) Thomas of Swansboro; North Carolina; and Mrs. Donald (Carmen) Thomas of Joplin; Missouri; two brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: James and Lillian Laird of Belle Vernon and David and Alana Laird of Phoenix; Arizona; six nephews and three nieces-in-law; Michael Thomas of Joplin; Missouri; Ronald and Donna Thomas and daughters Meagan and Devon; of Joplin. Missouri; Briant and Michea Thomas and daughters Breann; McKenna; Keely and Kaylan of Joplin; Missouri; Brian and Peggy Thomas and son Brandon of Detroit; Michigan; Kenneth Thomas of Tucson; Arizona; and William Laird of Belle Vernon and his fiancee Kelly Rockwell of Brownsville; four nieces and nephews-in-law: Karen Thomas and Ray Jagodzinski and children Jennifer and Matthew Braun of Detroit; Michigan; Cyndee Thomas and Chip Beach and children Nichole and Jesse of Detroit; Michigan; Eleanor Laird and Ken Beaver and children Devastasha and Leo of Sheffield; Ohio; and Elaine Laird and Chas Gaertner and daughter Greta of Carrboro; North Carolina; and numerous cousins; including Mr. and Mrs. Gerald (Betty Thomas) Schultz of Johnstown. Mrs. Laird is also survived by her baby ‘Midnight’ and an extensive list of lifelong loving friends too numerous to name. Friends will be received Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC. and CREMATION SERVICE; a Golden Rule Member Firm; (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Avenue; Belle Vernon. Funeral services will be in the funeral home on Wednesday; June 23 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. William Lawson; pastor of the Marion Presbyterian Church; officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to: Rehoboth Presbyterian Church; 442 Rehoboth Road; Belle Vernon; Pa. 15012.