Obituary of Jessie McLaughlin

MCLAUGHLIN, Jessie 95, passed peacefully from this world on January 9, 2018 following a brief illness. Jessie was born on October 30, 1922 in Oyster Bay, NY to Alexander and Augusta Townsend. Living there through her childhood and completing her education at Oyster Bay High School, she graduated in 1940 as class salutatorian. In 1943, she married Frank McLaughlin then an in-flight steward on Pan American World Airways China Clipper routes. After a promotion to a management position within the airline, Frank was assigned to Prague, Czechoslovakia. With two young children in tow (Frank Jr. and Denise), Jessie joined him in Europe. In letters written to her mother during her stay in post war Prague, Jessie revealed the plight of the Czech people attempting to live in, and recover from, the trauma of war. She was shocked at the difficulty of obtaining the most basic of necessities: socks, warm clothes and blankets. A later assignment brought them to London where they attended the 1948 Olympics. After returning to the states from London, and the birth of another son, Brian, the family resettled in Oyster Bay. When transferred again, they headed to Beirut, Lebanon for three years. Finally, back in NY with Frank Sr. working in NYC, they welcomed their youngest son, Bruce, moved to Huntington and built a new house. They never lost their thirst for travel, seeing and experiencing new places together, but now choosing when and where they wanted to go. They enjoyed this well into their retirement and particularly loved taking cruises. Always eager for new adventure, when it came time to retire they headed to Tucson, AZ. As evidenced by the many cards and letters Jessie saved throughout the years, she truly had established friends from all over the world. Jessie was active in the American Red Cross in both NY and AZ, fundraising, volunteering, and teaching swimming to many youngsters. She had a wonderful sense of humor, always bringing a smile and a laugh to both family and friends. She was an avid bridge player well into her eighties, and also enjoyed golf, playing in several leagues. She was a whiz at crossword puzzles, the Sunday NY Times being her personal favorite. She took up needlepoint spending hours creating wonderful gifts for lucky recipients. She was passionate about her family, her friends, and the University of Arizona basketball team! She was predeceased by her husband of nearly 70 years, and four of her five siblings. Jessie is survived by her brother, Jack Townsend and his wife, Jenny of Oyster Bay, NY; son, Frank Jr. and his wife, Kathy of Peterborough, NH; daughter, Denise Walton of Phoenix, AZ; sons, Brian and Bruce McLaughlin of Naples, FL and Tucson, AZ respectively; grandchildren, Allison and Todd McLaughlin, Brian and Marissa Walton, Katy Clayton and Chris McLaughlin, and Chase, Devin, Daralyn and Valen McLaughlin. She was also delighted to be a great-grandmother to Greer, Robbie and Brooke. A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. at the ADAIR FUNERAL HOME, Dodge Chapel, Tucson, AZ.