John Sidney "Jack" Laird, 85, of Panama City, Florida passed away at his home on October 10, 2017. Jack was born on November 29, 1931 to Wallace Hilton and Dorothy Albritton Laird. Upon graduating from Bay High School, he served a short tour with the United States Navy and then earned a degree in Forestry from the University of Florida. He worked for the family timber and pulpwood business for many years and eventually retired as the owner and operator of McCall Sod Farm. Jack loved to sail and spent many years racing, sharing his knowledge with crew members. In 1969, he was the North American Flying Scot Champion. He loved to fish – in the bay, in the gulf and later in life, on the beautiful Apalachicola River. He enjoyed traveling this country with adventures to the Grand Canyon, the redwoods and the glaciers of Alaska. As he journeyed through this life, he gathered many, many friends he considered family. He was preceded in death by a brother, Wallace H. Laird, Jr. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife Norma Laird; daughters, Leslie Whited (John), Melinda Luther (Gary), and Nancy Maddox (Lester); sisters, Patricia Hitchcock, Martha Newton and Dorothy Foster (Quintin); sisters- in- law, Alice Dukes (Kenneth), Joyce Oliver (Neal), Bobbie Jean Laird; grandchildren, James VanDyne (Jennifer), Ryan VanDyne (Heather), Crystal Schneider (Chris), Tyler Maddox (Cady) and Thomas Maddox (Shelby); and 7 greatgrandchildren. Funeral services will be on Friday October 13, 2017 at 3 pm in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Steve Taylor officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday night from 5-7 pm. Pallbearers will be James VanDyne, Ryan VanDyne, Tyler Maddox, Thomas Maddox, Chris Schneider and Dennis Oliver. Those desiring may make memorial donations to your favorite charity in memory of Jack Laird. The family would like to give special thanks to the Visiting Angels and Covenant Hospice for their loving care.