Pearl Baird, 88, of What Cheer, died Thursday, November 16, 2017 at the Keota Health Care Center. Funeral services will begin at 2:00 pm on Monday, November 20, 2017 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in What Cheer. Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm and last until the time of service. Burial will be in the Springfield Cemetery at Delta, Iowa. Guests may sign the online guestbook at hollandcoblefuneralhomes.com.


Pearl Juanita Baird was born April 7, 1929 in Rose Hill, Iowa, the daughter of Harry and Hazel Montgomery Thomas. She was a 1946 graduate of Rose Hill High School. Later that same year, she was married to Paul Daniels. To this union came four children. Her husband Paul was killed in the Korean War in 1951. On February 28, 1969, she was united in marriage to Robert Baird in Washington, Iowa. Pearl worked at the Big Smith Overall Factory and owned Pearl's Café in Oskaloosa. In 1977 Pearl and Robert began team driving for Dickey Trucking. Then in 1989, Pearl became a Home Health Nurse for Keokuk County. After retirement Pearl and Robert traveled extensively. She also enjoyed collecting antiques, cat figurines, knitting, crocheting, bingo, caring for her plants and playing the lottery.


Pearl is preceded in death by her parents; a husband, Paul Daniels; two sons, Danny Daniels and Steven Daniels; a daughter, Sharon Walker Daniels; a granddaughter, Michelle Daniels and two brothers, Charles and George Thomas.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Baird of What Cheer; a son, Gary Daniels of Bussey; four sisters, Mary Clubb of Sigourney, Marchita Hawk of Rose Hill, Patricia Decker of Oskaloosa and Peggy Cripps of California. Pearl also leaves behind sixteen grandchildren.