William McLaughlin Obituary

Area resident William Allen McLaughlin died Saturday, July 5, 2014, at the Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez. He was 66.

Mr. McLaughlin was born to William John and Betty Lou (Greer) McLaughlin on Nov. 21, 1947, in Durango. He grew up in Hesperus and graduated from Mancos High School in 1966.

After graduation, he joined the United States Air Force. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, he was deployed to West Germany during the Vietnam era. He served three and a half years as an air police sentry dog handler.

On May 22, 1967, he married Racene Gustafson. The couple had four children.

Mr. McLaughlin is survived by his wife of 47 years, Racene McLaughlin, of Cortez; children, Cyndi Morris, of Cortez, Brian McLaughlin, of Cortez, Kirt McLaughlin, of Issaquah, Washington and Darin McLaughlin of Omak, Washington; siblings, Nancy Hoffheins, of Cortez, Tolanda Sprague, of Cortez; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

A memorial service was held Friday at the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Mancos. Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150, Chicago, IL. 60601.

Visit www.ertelfuneralhome.com to send online condolences.