Extracted from the Panola Watchman (Carthage, TX)
Thursday, October 30, 1958

Services for Leo Bird Held Wednesday

Death came at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday for William Leo Bird, 82, member of a prominent family and a native of Panola County. He had been in ill health several years.

Mr. Bird was a native of the county, the son of the late John and Mary Bird. He was married to Miss Checkie McDaniel and was a member of the Methodist Church and the Odd Fellows Lodge.

He served as sheriff of Panola County for two terms from 1923 to 1927. His brother, Jim Bird, had also filled that office.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Hawthorn Chapel with the Rev. Joe S. Strother of Gladewater and the Rev. Grady Earls, pastor of the First Methodist Church, as the officiating ministers. Burial was in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery with Hawthorn Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers included Ethan Birdwell, Reed Forsyth, Glenn Soape, Tom Allison, Hollis Lawrence, and T. G. Duckworth.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Checkie Bird; two sons, Julius Bird and L. K. (Buddy) Bird, both of Carthage; one daughter, Mrs. Rapheal Crawford, also of Carthage; one brother, George Bird of Midyell; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.