Bertha J. (Baird) Callahan

Bertha J. Callahan, 80, of North Vernon, passed away at 2:38 p.m. on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.

Born March 20, 1945, in Williamsburg, Kentucky, she was the daughter of the late Clyde and Ruby (Capps) Baird. She married James D. “Jim” Callahan on March 4, 1964, in Scipio; he survives.

Bertha was a stay-at-home mom who loved being around her family, people and talking. She was a member of the North Vernon Church of the Nazarene in North Vernon. Bertha enjoyed crafting, crocheting, gardening, flowers, coloring, and playing board games, especially Yahtzee and Mad Marbles. She also enjoyed traveling to Branson, Missouri with her friends in Eastern Star.

Surviving with her husband of 61 years, Jim, are her daughter, Deb Johnson and her husband David of North Vernon; grandchildren, Hali Johnson (Bryce Downs), Avery Johnson and Megan Heilman (Ryan), all of North Vernon; great-grandchildren, Reid Johnson, Waverlee Downs, Wyatt Heilman and Alivia Heilman, all of North Vernon; and several, nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Sterling and Jesse Baird; and sisters, Wanda Perry and Elsie Ellis.

A funeral service for Bertha will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at the Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North Vernon with the Rev. Caleb Reynolds officiating. The visitation for family and friends will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday. December 2, 2025, and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. The burial will follow in the Vernon Cemetery in Vernon.  

Memorials may be made in honor of Bertha through the funeral home to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bertha J. (Baird) Callahan, please visit our floral store.