Howard Lee McLaughlin went to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at the age of 87. He was born in Oklahoma City on August 2,1937 to Eugene and Lucille McLaughlin. In 1954, Howard joined the US Navy where he served on the USS Uhlmann DD-687. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1958. If you asked him, or even if you didn't, he would tell you he served 4 years, one month and 19 days. During this time, he met the love of his life Wanda Brotherton. They met at a local drug store where she worked the soda fountain and, according to Howard, learned to make the best hamburger around. They were married on August 27, 1957 and were married a month shy of 49 years before her death in 2006. To this marriage were born three children, Robert "Robbie," Richard "Pete," and Rhonda "Susie." After the Navy, Howard eventually went to work at Western Electric, later to be called AT&T, where he retired after 30 years of service.

Howard trained horses as a young person and loved dogs, fishing, and hunting. His grandsons have fond memories of their talks about firearms and ammunition and his time at sea. He had a good time water skiing at Tenkiller and Eufaula. He also enjoyed riding trails on motorcycles.

There were many Thanksgiving breaks spent with his granddaughters and grandsons at Robbers' Cave. He liked hiking and trout fishing and exploring the cave with all of them.

Early in their marriage Howard did not attend church with the family. That all changed on a Sunday morning in 1970 when the singing Speer Family was visiting the church. Howard decided to go with the family to church that morning. This decision changed the course of his life. He accepted Christ as his savior that morning. Howard loved the Lord with every fiber of his being and he served the Lord and his church faithfully for over 54 years.

Howard and the family worshiped and actively served at Trinity Church of the Nazarene until the 1980's. His sons and daughter have fond memories of the adventures with the Trinity teen groups to Carlsbad, Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, and more.

Howard and Wanda began attending Shields Boulevard Church of the Nazarene. Howard was very involved at Shields Church where he helped teach a high school Sunday school class and then later began teaching an adult Sunday school class. He and Wanda served there until Wanda's passing in 2006 and then Howard came home to Trinity where he worshiped and served the last 18 years.

Howard had his own personal ministry of visitation. He was passionate about visiting the sick, whether at home or in the hospital, as well as those in senior living facilities. One of Howard's favorite things to do was attending his Sunday School Class. He loved to study God's word and would dive deep into scripture and Bible commentaries. He had read the entire Bible 29 times. He was known for his "lively" discussions in his Sunday school class even though at this time he was not the teacher. His Sunday school class has loved him well, especially during these years of decline. The family would like to thank them for their visits and the many cards they have sent.

The family would also like to thank Sommerset Neighborhood for their care and compassion the last 2 1/2 years not only to Howard but to his family.

Howard is preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Lucille McLaughlin, sister Rita Thoms, and loving wife Wanda McLaughlin.

He is survived by his son Robert McLaughlin and wife Marsha, son Richard McLaughlin and wife Shari, daughter Rhonda Bailey and husband Tim, grandchildren Caitlin Gonzalez and husband Joshua, Shelby Sheldon and husband Ryan, Jared McLaughlin and Sean McLaughlin, Andrew Bailey and wife Shelby, Matthew Bailey and wife Riley, great-grandchildren Easton Gonzalez, Blakely, Daxton, Brooks, and Harper Bailey, two sisters, Catherine and Charolette, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends all held close to his heart.

We will miss you Dad, Grandpa, and PeePaw but we are thankful you are at peace in your eternal home with Jesus