Beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, John died peacefully at his home in Kimberling City, Missouri on Thursday, December 29, 2011. He was a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was born in 1929 and was a graduate of Baton Rouge High School. He was 82. John served in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army from 1951-1953. He was a successful business man. He started his business career owning McLaughlin Sheet Metal,which he operated from 1953 until 1964. He then began building homes and apartments. In 1964, he built Palais Royale Apartments in North Baton Rouge, and in 1966, built Ardenwood Court Apartments on Government Street in South Baton Rouge. In 1969, he built Kings Court Apartments in North Baton Rouge. In 1972-74, he built Fontainbleau/Plantation Trace Apartments on Highland Road near L.S.U. He owned and operated the apartments near L.S.U. until he sold them in 2004. In 1975 John moved with his family to Koshkonong, Mo., where he bought 2800 acres of land and developed a beautiful ranch. They lived there until 1989, when he leased the ranch out to be used as a Christian retreat and camp for churches. He retired from his labors after selling Fontainbleau/Plantation Trace. John always loved boating from very early in his life. In later years, he built apartments complexes in New Mexico, Texas, Mississippi and Tennessee and enjoyed flying his twin engine plane from Louisiana to these projects.
Survived by his wife, the former Dorothy Elise Ainsworth, of Baton Rouge; son John W. McLaughlin, II. and wife, Sharon Ducote of Panama City Beach, Fl.; son, Greg McLaughlin, and wife Tammy Watkins of West Plains, Mo.; and daughter, Ellen McLaughlin Hadden and husband , Louis Hadden of Boca Raton, Fl. He had grand-children, Amie McLaughlin and her son, Cameron Palmintier of Baton Rouge, Bridgette and husband Stephen Jencks, and their children, Alaina and Ansley; Brittany and John McLaughlin III., all of Panama City Beach, Fl., Kyle McLaughlin, Courtney and Rebekah McLaughlin of West Plains, Mo., and Daniel McLaughlin and wife Brooke Bloem of Live Oak, Texas; Kyla Danielle McLaughlin and husband, Riley Olson of Stockton, Mo.; Chase and Elise Hadden of Boca Raton, Fl. And several nieces and nephews. He was survived by a sister, Mattie Wallis and her husband, Vernon of W. Monroe, La. Preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Bryant McLaughlin and Mae Allen McLaughlin, two brothers, Bruce Facundus, Sr. and J.B. McLaughlin, Jr.
One of the things that John was heavily involved in was missionary work in the Philippines. If you care to honor him, you may send a donation in his name to Central Calvary Baptist Church, 4607 State Route CC, West Plains, Mo. 65775, for Missionary Gil Laurena.