Mr. Harry William Laird, Sr., age 85 of Gallatin, Tennessee was welcomed into his Heavenly home on April 25, 2022.
The son of a sharecropper, Harry was born in Barnwell, South Carolina on June 29, 1936.
He joined the United States Army at the age of 18 where he served from 1955 – 1958. At 21, Harry met the love of his life, Etta, and they were married in 1961. Their first son, Billy was born in 1967 and in 1968 his work with Dupont took them to Tennessee. Harry and Etta welcomed their second son, Michael in 1969.
Harry worked for many years at Dupont as well as his own business, a landscaping and tree service. In 2001, Harry retired from Dupont to spend time with his children and grandchildren. He and Etta moved to Pigeon Forge in 2007 where he worked at Dollywood and later returned to Hendersonville in 2012. Harry never met a stranger, loved the mountains, never watched a western he didn’t like, and most importantly loved to talk about Jesus.
Harry is preceded in death by his parents, Jimmy and Lillian Laird; and a brother, Laurie Laird.
He is survived by Etta Gay Laird, his wife of 61+ years; sons, Harry William “Billy” Laird, Jr. (Kathy) and Michael Paul Laird (Tina); granddaughters, Alicia Laird Myers (Tyler), Mary Kathleen “Katie” Laird (Ryan Sheppard), Sophia Faith Laird, and Madeline Hope Laird; great-grandson, Harrison Taylor Myers; sisters, Dorothy “Dot” Dukes and Marie Wade (Robert); brothers, Charles Laird (Carolyn), Delano Laird (Leah), Frankie Laird, and Donnie Laird (Linda); a sister-in-law, Lillie Laird; and several nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Service honoring Harry will be held on Monday, May 2, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. from the Chapel of Sumner Funeral & Cremation Lakeside with Dr. Mark Grubb and Dr. Lloyd Johnson. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 3:00 – 5:00 P.M. and on Monday from 10:00 A.M. until time of service. Inurnment with Military Honors will follow at Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery in Pegram at 2:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Arrangements Entrusted To Sumner Funeral & Cremation Lakeside, Hendersonville (615) 822-4442 www.sumnerfuneral.com
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