On January 13, 2024, Nancy Gallagher Baird passed away peacefully at 71 in the loving presence of her husband Henry; their three adoring children Erin, Michael, and Kelly; their two grandchildren Michael Henry and Mikayla Rose; and her younger sister Brenda.

She was born as Nancy Elizabeth Gallagher on August 6, 1952, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida as the second of five children to Brendan and Carrie Gallagher, and at 21 while working as the head cashier at Food World, Nancy was introduced to fellow Brevard County resident and Food World bag boy/stock man Henry Davis Baird Jr.. Initially unimpressed, Nancy eventually succumbed to his persistent smiling charm, and on December 14, 1974, they were married at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Rockledge, Florida. Over the next 49 adventurous years together in the US and abroad, 28 years of which were with the United States Air Force, Nancy and Henry moved their household 14 times and raised three beautiful children before finally settling in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 2005.

No matter where they lived, or for how long, Nancy kept the family together and bloomed where she was planted, invariably making lifelong friends along the way. Nancy had an inexhaustible capacity for compassion and genuine kindness that met people where they were and made us all feel deeply seen. And when combined with her quirky mischievousness and good-natured, sometimes irreverent, sense of humor she was universally loved. She would carry any burden, and make any sacrifice, for those she loved, and she loved and was loved by nearly everyone she met. For those of us blessed to have known her and to have been known by her as family and friends, we are left with a gaping hole in our lives. She was the lynchpin that held us all together and, while we know she would say “The sun will always come out tomorrow”, we are not sure yet how to carry on without her.

We will honor her legacy and celebrate her life during a Catholic funeral service on Saturday, February 10th from 10:30-12:30 pm at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado followed by a reception from 1:30-3:30 pm. All who knew and loved Nancy are welcome to join us as we remember her as she was - everyone’s favorite person; our confidant/advisor and phone consultant; a beacon of love, joy, and acceptance; and a cherished grandma Nana, mother, wife, and best friend who taught us all to see the best in each other. Her memory and influence will resound in our hearts forever.

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