Tom McLaughlin

Published 1:28 pm Monday, July 30, 2018

March 17, 1940 – June 10, 2018

Free at last from a terrible disease, PSP or Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Tom passed peacefully on June 10, 2018, at home with his family by his bedside.

Tom was born to Willard and Mabel McLaughlin in Corvallis, Oregon, on St Patrick’s Day. He lived most of his youth in Eastern Washington and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane in 1957. He then traveled across country to Dartmouth College and graduated in 1961, and then went on to law school at the University of Washington where he graduated in 1964. Tom served as an officer in the US Army where he was stationed primarily in Washington DC and Virginia, receiving his discharge in 1966. He was a member of the state Bar Associations in both Washington and Alaska, and practiced law for 32 years until he retired and moved to Bend, Oregon.

In 1969, while on a ski trip with friends to Sun Valley, Tom met Sonya who became his wife and the “joy of his life”. Forty-eight years of a very happy marriage, along with three beautiful children and nine precious grandchildren were the inspiration of his adult life.

Tom grew up in a family that loved the outdoors, and he fully embraced it. He instilled that love of nature and animals in his children. The family lived in Alaska for four years and enjoyed many adventures into the wild and lived a very different lifestyle from city life.

The return to Seattle area was joyful with the renewal of many old friendships and more years of practicing law until he decided to retire in 1998.

Tom and Sonya built a beautiful home in Bend and Tom focused more on his favorite sports–golf and fishing. Needing a little more to do, Tom went on to become a financial advisor for Charles Schwab. He loved to talk to clients about their long-range goals from both a legal and financial perspective.

He was a member of Awbrey Glen Golf Club, participated in Central Oregon Flyfishers, hiked many trails and biked many roads. Skiing was one of the primary reasons Tom and Sonya chose Bend for retirement and Mt. Bachelor offered many happy and beautiful days of skiing.

Tom is survived by his wonderful wife, Sonya, three children, Bret and wife, Terisa; Jay and wife, Bridget; Katie and husband, Todd, nine grandchildren, and his brother, John McLaughlin who all miss him greatly.

A celebration of life will be held at the Falls Clubhouse in Eagle Crest, Oregon, Saturday, October 6.