The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Gerald Lee “Redbird” Bird, Jr., 56, a resident of Orange and Hemphill, died Tuesday, June 26, at his home in Orange. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Claybar Funeral Home in Bridge City. Cremation will follow the service.

Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home in Bridge City.

Born in Orange on Feb. 26, 1956, Redbird was the son of Gerald Lee Bird, Sr. and Delores (Kennedy) Bird. He was baptized a Catholic and attended St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Bridge City. He was a 1974 graduate of Bridge City High School, an avid Bridge City Cardinal fan and worked as a journeyman/foreman with Millwright Local 2484 in Orange.

Redbird is survived by his loving wife, Candy Bird of Orange and Hemphill; parents, Gerald and Delores Bird of Orange; children, Monica Leigh Villarreal and her husband, Ruben, of Houston, Jared Lee Bird of Houston, Spc. Jeremy Lewis Bird with the US Army, stationed at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Lindsey Bird of Nacogdoches, and granddaughter, Makenna Elyse Bird of Port Neches.

Also surviving are his sisters, Charlotte Walker and Denzil Thompson of Nederland, Pam Vaught and her husband, Ronnie; brother, Rodney Bird; nephews, Jason Staton, Dusty and Matt Vaught all of Orange; niece, Jenny Staton of Austin; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Serving as Honorary Pallbearers will be Rocky Burgess, Jon Cole, Bo Bounds, Johnny Broussard, David Brown, Gary Flowers, Michael Methner, and Elmo Bird.