William Allen "Bill" Mclaughlin

WILLIAM ALLEN "BILL" MCLAUGHLIN Graveside inurnment services for lifelong area resident William Allen "Bill" McLaughlin will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 11 at the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Mancos, Colo. A celebration of life will be held following the graveside service at the Mancos Community Center. All are welcome for food and fellowship in honor of Bill. Bill was born on November 21, 1947 in Durango, Colo. to William John and Betty Lou (Greer) McLaughlin. He passed away on Saturday, July 5, 2014 at the age of 66 at Southwest Memorial Hospital. In 1966 he graduated from Mancos High School and that June he joined the United States Air Force. Following basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas he was deployed to West Germany during the Vietnam era. Airman McLaughlin served 3 1/2 years as Air Police Sentry dog handler. On May 22, 1967 Bill and Racene were married. Four children were born to this union, Cyndi, Brian, Kirt and Darin. Surviving Bill are his wife of 47 years, Racene (Gustafson) McLaughlin of Cortez; children, Cyndi Morris and husband, Robert of Cortez, Brian McLaughlin of Cortez, Kirt McLaughlin of Issaquah, Wash., and Darin McLaughlin of Omak, Wash.; his siblings, Nancy Hoffheins and husband, Don of Cortez and Tolanda Sprague and husband, Wes of Cortez; as well as eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. Preceding him in death were his parents, William John and Betty Lou McLaughlin. Memorial contributions can be made in Bill's memory to the American Lung Association.