Jessie Calvin “J.C.” Laird, 95, of Kountze, died Monday, February 24, 2014, at Kountze Nursing Center, Kountze.  He was born on September 6, 1918, in Little Rock, Texas, to Myrtie Brown Laird and Thomas Laird, and had been a longtime resident of Kountze.  Jessie was a United States Army veteran and was a retired carpenter with Brown and Root in Baytown.

Survivors include his children, Elizabeth Oleta Hadnot and her husband Michael, of Kountze; Jessie Bryant of Kountze; Nola Marie Wheeler and her husband, Richard, of Evadale; Bill Laird and his wife, Vicki, of Kountze; Mary Lowe and her husband, John, of Onalaska; and Christi Pope of Silsbee; sister, Evalena Jones of Vidor; twenty-four grandchildren; forty-three great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Oleta Laird; daughter, Martha Ann Laird; grandchildren, Michael Hadnot, Amber Lisenby, and Jana Laird; four brothers, Albert, Amos, Jim, and Ed Laird; and two sisters, Irene Anderson and Josie Davis Herron.

A gathering of Mr. Laird’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 26, 2014, at Hwy. 326 Worship Center, 5970 Highway 326, Kountze.  His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, February 27, 2014, at the church, with interment to follow at Old Hardin Cemetery, Kountze, under the direction of Broussard’s, 530 West Monroe, Kountze.

Memorial contributions may be made to Alzeheimer’s Association, 700 North Street, Suite M, Beaumont, Texas  77701.