Mildred Fay (Wise) Laughlin, 93, of Brownwood passed away Tuesday, January 26, 2021, surrounded by family.
Graveside Services for Mildred will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 30, 2021, at the Trickham Cemetery with Rev. Carol Roberts and Rev. Joan Graves La Barr officiating; there is no set visitation. Arrangements are under the direction of Blaylock Funeral Home of Brownwood.
Mildred was born December 13, 1927, the daughter of Clifton and Irene (Pearce) Wise in Brookesmith, Texas. She graduated valedictorian of Brookesmith High School in May 1945. Mildred married her high school sweetheart, U.S. Army Private Billy Roy Laughlin, who was training for the land invasion of Japan. The two were seventeen and eighteen when they wed and were married over 63 years when he died. They loved and cared for three children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. They believed “Spare the rod and spoil the child” was God’s command to never strike a child and to always “spoil” them with unconditional love. They also cared for their own aging parents and siblings. They loved each other, their extended families, their Thirteenth Street neighbors, their own friends, and those of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
The last three years of her life, Mildred lived in The Vicksburg, where she made many new friends and reconnected with old ones. She loved the people there, the food (especially desserts), Bingo, 42, and crafts.
Mildred was an artist, dancer, designer and seamstress, creative cook, and quite the saleswoman, but her life was home and family. Brought up in Brookesmith Baptist Church, she walked (in heels on unpaved streets) to Calvary Baptist holding each of her little girls by the hand when Billy Roy worked irregular hours and they had one car. Seeing them walk by her house, Nettie Graves offered to take them to church with her grandchildren at First Presbyterian Church, so they then had a seven-year foundation in Presbyterianism before joining Central Methodist. At Central Methodist, Mother taught children’s Bible and Sunday School, hosted MYF dinners, showers, and class parties. She was also school room mother from 1954-1976.
Preceded in death by her husband, Billy Roy; son, Lee Wise Laughlin; parents, Clifton and Irene Wise; a three-year-old brother, Roger Clifton Wise; and sister, Emmarie Henderson.
Mildred is survived by two daughters, Cheryl Campbell and husband Andy of Lake Brownwood, and Charlotte Laughlin and husband Billy C. Lee of Waco and Brownwood; grandchildren: Shelly Maldonado and husband Ray of Brownwood, Brian Campbell of Dallas, Susan Lee Varnon and husband Justin of Lewisville, and Clifton Lee and wife Janilyn of Arlington; great-grandchildren, Kaylom Campbell and wife Myra of Euless and Julia Maldonado of Brownwood; and great-great-granddaughter, Isabella Campbell of Euless. Kaylom and Isabella were the particular joys of her later life.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Trickham Cemetery Association, Central United Methodist Church, or the Methodist Children’s Home of Waco. Because she loved life and protecting others, she would have wanted everyone attending her funeral to wear masks, stand in family groups, and observe social distancing. Online condolences for the family are welcome at www.blaylockfuneralhome.com.
