Carma Joyce Bird

Carma Joyce Bird, age 89, passed away on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 in Rigby, Idaho. Born on December 18th, 1926 in Idaho Falls to Joseph Albert Ingram and Mary Rozelpha Johnson. Carma was the 11th child in a close, loving family. She was raised in the Idaho Falls area and graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 1944. During World War II, Carma trained as a nurse at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, graduating in 1947. Upon her return to Idaho, she met a dashing and persistent farmer, Kenneth Bird. He was likely enchanted by her now classic blend of sass and wit. They were married in the Idaho Falls LDS temple on September 21st, 1948. Kenneth and Carma provided a modest living for their 6 children by operating a farm in Milo, Idaho. Underpinning all the commotion of young family life on the farmland was Carma and Ken's consistent devotion to Christian principles and church participation. They also spent many years in Rexburg, Idaho, where they ran an Arctic Circle establishment and built and managed the Norseman and Riviera apartments. Carma also worked as the Public Health Nurse for all of Madison County for many years. After many decades of hard work and perseverance, Ken and Carma acquired a charming “over the river and through the woods” homestead in LaBelle, Idaho, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Carma went on several LDS missions, serving and loving the people of Salt Lake City, Guatemala, England, and Mexico. Everyone who met Carma would never forget her vibrancy and quick humor. In her later years she was called “Grandma Bird” by more than just her posterity, and her beautiful home became a haven and gathering place for anyone who visited. Friends and family will always treasure their memories of visiting her, working on puzzles with her, sampling her chocolate collection, playing croquet in her yard, getting beat at cards by her, and watching silly squirrels and birds frolic through the trees from her kitchen window. Carma’s life is best summed up by her favorite motto: “I Can Do Hard”. Carma is survived by 5 of her 6 children, K. Michael Bird (Dani) of Pocatello, ID; Marlon D. Bird (Marian) of Rigby, ID; Robert A. Bird (Laurie) of Mesa, AZ; Debra S. Weatherhead of Rigby, Idaho; Janet M. McKeen (Robert) of Farmington, UT, and her daughter-in-law, Cyndi Bird of Wenatchee, WA. She will also be loved and missed by 37 grandchildren and soon-to-be 68 great grandchildren. Carma is also survived by two brothers: Dean Ingram of Denver, CO, and Bart Ingram of Idaho Falls, ID. Carma was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Kenneth Parley Bird, her son Randal Scott Bird, granddaughter Michelle Lynn Nielsen, and her son-in-law Douglas Weatherhead. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 9, 2016, at 11 am in the Labelle 3rd Ward chapel, located at 364 N 4100 E, Rigby ID. The family will visit with friends, at Eckersell Memorial Chapel located at 101 West Main Street, Rigby, Friday April 8, 2016 from 6:30 to 8 pm and on Saturday, at the church from 9:30 to 10:45 am. Burial will be in the Milo Cemetery.