Ida Jane Bird

Ida Jane Bird passed away peacefully on January 22, 2022, at the age of 81, with her family by her side.

Jane was born on September 16, 1940 in Hollis, Oklahoma and moved with her parents to Selma, California where she attended and graduated from Selma High School in 1958. She married her husband Larry Bird Jr. in February 1961, and they moved to Apple Valley, California in 1963 to work and raise their four children. She attended Pasadena College and graduated from Cal State Los Angeles in 1963 with her Bachelor's Degree in Education. She began a 41-year teaching career in Apple Valley at Desert Knolls Elementary School and in Victorville at Del Ray Elementary School before moving to teach for two years in Adrian, Michigan. In 1973, Jane moved with her family to Ridgecrest, California where she taught first grade and special education in the Sierra Sands Unified School District for 32 years, at Groves, Richmond, and Las Flores Elementary Schools.

Jane was an active member of the Ridgecrest First Church of the Nazarene where she absolutely loved teaching Sunday School and singing in the church choir. She actively supported her husband with his leadership in the Burroughs High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes' huddle and his coaching of the boys' basketball team. Her support when she served as the unofficial team mom for the Cerro Coso Community College Men's Basketball team- making meals, getting their apartments ready, and cheering on the athletes. Jane supported her children by driving them to practices and attending all of their games and activities. She loved to draw, work in her garden and yard, and take care of the family animals that were brought home by her children.

Jane loved her family and leaves behind her husband and four children, Larry III (Julie) Bird, Kim McBride, Richard Bird, Mitchell Bird, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at the Ridgecrest First Church of the Nazarene on Thursday, January 27, 2022. Viewing will be at 10 a.m. and the service at 11 a.m. The reception will be held in the Fellowship Hall. Private burial service will be held on January 31, 2022 at El Camino Memorial Cemetery in San Diego, California.