Gretchen Beverly McLaughlin

She was born on May16, 1928 at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge, the only child of Sallie Rowland Smith and Hugh McGeever Smith.

She attended elementary school at Ninth Ward School and Central Elementary and later attended Baton Rouge Junior High and Baton Rouge High.

A lifelong resident of Baton Rouge she married J.B. “Doc” McLaughlin 1943. They were married for 58 years.

She is survived by two daughters: Gretchen Anne McLaughlin Nelson (Dean Nelson, deceased) of American Falls, Idaho and Denise McLaughlin Tucker (Richard Tucker, deceased) of Baton Rouge. Also surviving are 9 grandchildren: Sallye Deanne Nelson Simpsonville, S.C., Nancye LaFay (Jacques) New Meadows, Idaho, Susan Stanley (Tim) Boise, Idaho, Matthew Nelson (Holly) Las Vegas, Nevada Brian Tucker (Jackie) Baton Rouge, Jill Tucker Doepp, New Orleans (Edward), Scott Nelson (Crystal),Pocatello, Idaho, Blake Nelson (Paula), American Falls, Idaho, and Erin Mackey (Dane) Baton Rouge. Great-grandchildren are: Anthony Podyma, Patrick Stanley, Nicholas Nelson, Shawn Stanley, Sloan Nelson, Harrison Nelson, Caleb LaFay, Pieper Nelson, Gracie Nelson, Averee Nelson and Willow Nelson.Also: Caroline and Christopher Tucker, Abby and Emma Doepp and Audrey, George and Mary Kate Mackey. Also, one great-greatgrandchild, Ruby Nelson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, J.B. “Doc” McLaughlin, Jr. (1926-2001) and one son, Joseph Bryant McLaughlin, III “Joey” (1956-1971).

She was employed by the East Baton Rouge School Board as a school secretary at Dufrocq and Winbourne Elementary Schools.

Being a mother and wife was her most important calling in life.

Gretchen was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for all her

life and held many leadership and teaching callings.

Services will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, Downtown location, 825 Government St. Baton Rouge on Thursday, March 23 at 11:30 a.m.,with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m.,prior to the service. Interment will follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park, 995 Florida St., Baton Rouge.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or your favorite Children’s charity.

To view and sign the online guestbook, please sign www.rabenhorst.com.