Submitted by
Louise Willison

Clemmie Ann Laughlin

Clemmie Ann Laughlin, Arkansas City resident and formerly of Newkirk, died early Sunday morning, Oct. 2, 2005, in South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center in Arkansas City. She was 73.

The funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, in the chapel of Miller-Stahl Funeral Services with the Rev. Blaine Herron, minister of Four Square Gospel Church of Ponca City, officiating. Burial will follow in Newkirk Cemetery.

Clemmie Ann Laughlin was born Oct. 5, 1931, in Knoxville, Tenn., the daughter of Marshall and Dolly Belle Ayers Vest. She grew up and received her education in Knoxville. After finishing grade school, she stayed home and help take care of her brothers and sisters.

On Jan. 29, 1949. she married Harold Jason Laughlin in Rossville, Ga. They lived in Wichita, Kan., before they moved to a farm northwest of Newkirk in the early 1950s. They farmed until 1971 when they moved into Newkirk. In 1979 they moved to Wichita, Kan., living there until retirement in 1985 and moved to Newkirk where they lived until. She remained in Newkirk until 2004 when she moved to Arkansas City.

She was employed as a waitress and as a CMA at the hospital, both in Arkansas City.

She was a member of the Baptist faith. She enjoyed crocheting and reading, sports, playing games, and watching John Wayne and Elvis Presley movies.

Survivors include three sons, Harold Jason Laughlin Jr. of Edmond, Rodney Noyce Laughlin of Atlanta, Ga., and Donald Glenn Laughlin of Corpus Christi, Texas; four daughters, Marsha Merie Roe of Grenola, Kan., Deborah Ann Fortenberry of Oklahoma City, Jacquelynn Ruth Belasco of Tucson and Carol Laughlin of Geronimo; two brothers, Lawrence Vest of Wichita, Kan., and Jim Vest of Florida; one sister, Peggy Fogelson of Dallas, Texas; 19 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband on March 27, 1991; her parents; one brother, Dave Vest; and three grandchildren.

Casket bearers will be Brian Roe, Christian Fortenberry, Billy Roe, Jacob Laughlin, Shane Laughlin and Brandon Laughlin.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Red Cross, c/o Eastman National Bank, Box 468, Newkirk, Okla. 74647-0468.