Marvel Joline Laughlin

Obituary Marvel Joline (Whipple) Laughlin Marvel Joline (Whipple) Laughlin was born March 8, 1929 in Tacoma at St. Joseph Hospital to Margaret Irene and Orley Keeling Whipple. Marvel died in Boise, Idaho on June 2, 2008. She spent the first seven years of her life living at the Kennecott Copper Mine in Alaska. She returned to Tacoma and graduated from Lincoln High School where she was choir president. Upon graduation, she attended Knapps Business College. She worked for two years as Fircrest City clerk. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert Laughlin in May 25, 1950. They spent several years in the Air Force ending their career in Albuquerue, New Mexico. Upon returning to Tacoma, they raised a son, Kevin and daughter, Colleen. Marvel was active in the Holy Cross choir, religious education, and mothers club and in later years was Eucharistic minister to the elderly and homebound in the North end of Tacoma. She worked as a cook at the Idle Hour Tavern in Ruston and was known for making "great" apple pies. She loved to garden and gave away vegetables and gallons of raspberries to north end neighbors over 40 years. She was an active WSU Cougar fan and enjoyed visits to Pullman to attend St. Thomas More folk group events, football games, eat ice cream at Ferdinand's and walk on Kamiak Butte. She attended Chatcolab: the Northwest Leadership Laboratory over three decades where the Warm Springs Indians gave her the name "White Dove" for her joyful spirit and hopeful heart. In retirement she volunteered to read to children at Point Defiance public school and at the Point Defiance Zoo where she was particularly fond of the Sea Otters. She loved Tacoma, the Point, the ocean, Mount Rainier and the conservatory at Wrights Park. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert; her parents Orley (OK) and Margaret Whipple and step sister Margaret Stocks. She is survived by her brother Robert Whipple of Lakewood; daughter Colleen Laughlin Pardo and her husband Elias, five grandchildren, Ian, Rylan, Afton, Reu and Brevin Pardo of Mesa, Arizona; her son Kevin of Garden City, ID; sister-in-law Joyce Harrington and her husband Jack Harrington of Belmont, CA; nephew Chuck Harrington of Missoula, MT, nieces Anne Harrington of Seattle, WA and Joan Harrington of Burlingame, CA; brother-in-law Michael Laughlin of Missoula, MT, numerous cousins and most importantly some wonderful friends. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, June 9, 2008 at 11:00 am at Holy Cross Catholic Church followed by a reception. Rosary will be recited Sunday, June 8, 2008 at 7:00 pm at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Interment at Calvary Cemetery. The family would like to thank the supporting community at Franke Tobey Jones and the Point Defiance/Ruston Senior Center for over 15 years of care for Marvel. From wellness to assisted living they made a big difference! In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Point Defiance Zoo or Franke Tobey Jones Wellness Program. To all my friends and family, Thank you to everyone who was so good to me over the years from Alaska, to South Tacoma, to New Mexico, to the North End, at Holy Cross, to FTJ assisted living. I love you all. Thanks especially to all my prayer givers and care givers, who prayed with me, woke me up, bathed me and got me dressed. Please take care of yourself and stay well! That should do it for now! God Bless you all! Marvel