DOROTHY F. LAUGHLIN

Longtime Palmer resident Dorothy Laughlin, 78, died Nov. 29, 2003, in Palmer. Burial will be Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Palmer Pioneer Cemetery. A memorial service will be held on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the United Protestant Church in Palmer, with Revs. Leisa and Timothy Carrick officiating. A reception will follow in the church's Eder Hall.

Mrs. Laughlin was born Sept. 30, 1925, in Saginaw, Mich. She graduated from high school in Flint, Mich. She continued her education at Michigan State University, graduating in 1949 with a degree in floraculture, and at Alaska Methodist University, graduating with a master's degree in teaching and library science.

She married Winston Laughlin June 7, 1947, in Flint. The couple drove the Alaska Highway, arriving in Palmer in September 1949.

She worked as a substitute teacher and taught piano lessons. She was very active with the Anchorage Literacy Project, teaching at Hiland Correctional Facility and at Palmer Correctional Center. She was a volunteer librarian in Palmer, was active in church activities and 4H, and volunteered at the Lazy Mountain Children's Home.

Mrs. Laughlin was well-known for her love of books and cats. She liked helping people. She was an Evangelical Christian who fellowshipped at the United Protestant Church.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Winston Laughlin; her children and their spouses Ellen Taylor and Michael Curley, Keith and Stacy Laughlin and Brian and Karen Laughlin; grandchildren Valerie, Benjamin, Juliana, Tristan, Ian, Jordan, Liza, Tessa and Kira; her sister Ruth Buntrock of Michigan; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Roelif and Ruth Laughlin of Seattle; and six nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son Laurence Laughlin and her brother Nave Fuleihan, who disappeared in 1947 while serving in the Navy, and is listed as missing, presumed dead.

Arrangements were made by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.