Donald Chester Mclaughlin

Donald Chester McLaughlin passed away in his sleep December 30, 2023, at the age of 99, at home in Milwaukie, Oregon.

Our father was born June 13, 1924, in Milwaukie to local dairyman Chester C. McLaughlin and Martha L. McLaughlin (née Birkemeier). Our dad was quickly inducted into farm work while still a boy, shouldering his share of chores. After graduation from Milwaukie High School in 1942—by which time the supply of Depression-era hired hands whom his father depended upon had migrated to nearby shipyards—Dad did not follow his male classmates into military service, but somewhat reluctantly stayed home to help his aging father operate the dairy. In early 1945, however, the draft board finally called him up: he eagerly reported to Camp Roberts, California, for basic training, then promptly shipped out for a planned invasion of Japan. While mid-ocean, however, two atomic bombs ended the prospect of combat for Dad, whose active duty in the U.S. Army became the occupation of postwar Japan.

Upon discharge in early 1947, Dad began his engineering studies at Vanport College, later (after the flood) transferring to Oregon State College, from which he graduated in 1950. Also that year he married Ruth Yvonne Seymour, and together they drove to Dad’s first job in Southern California, with Union Oil.

Ten years and three kids later, they returned to their Milwaukie roots, where Dad found employment as a plant engineer in Portland’s chemical industry, in which he progressed until his retirement.

After his marriage ended, he met Shirley Montgomery at the church he had attended for years. They married and found a loving camaraderie in church activities, in antique hunting, in exploring Oregon’s covered bridges, in relishing their time with grandchildren. And they looked forward to their regular Friday dinners at Tebo’s, where together they met friends and local relatives over burgers and pie.

Yet he was fundamentally a quiet man who preferred home to socializing. He was probably most comfortable either sitting with Shirley in their living room in front of the wood stove, or working outdoors on his two acres.

Dad was always generous in contributing his practical skills to the churches he faithfully attended over the decades, including Milwaukie First Baptist Church (now GracePointe Church), Sellwood Baptist Church (now Sellwood Church), Clackamas Bible Church, and others. He maintained a decades-long membership in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and always enjoyed sharing his wartime experience and military memorabilia in Milwaukie High School’s Living History Days.

With a family history in Milwaukie that dates back to the 1870s, Dad’s innate curiosity led him to become the unofficial but diligent family genealogist. Naturally interested in the town’s history as well, he and Shirley devoted many volunteer hours to the Milwaukie Historical Museum.

Dad lost Shirley in 2022 after 51 years of marriage. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Rachel West and Jean Johnson, and by all his first cousins. He is survived by his sons, Timothy McLaughlin of Portland, Oregon, and Daniel McLaughlin of Spokane, Washington; daughter, Rebecca Breckenridge of Mulino, Oregon; sons, Seth McLaughlin of Bend, Oregon, and David McLaughlin of North Plains, Oregon; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of his life is planned for a later date.