Obit of Mclaughlin, Rev. Homer - Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 21 Jan 2007 Return to Pottawatomie County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/pottawatomie/pottawatomie.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Pleasant Hill Cemetery--Sebastopol CA Santa Rosa Press Democrat Published on August 10, 2001 The Rev. Homer McLaughlin, minister of Bennett Valley Baptist Church for more than 25 years, believed in practicing what he preached. In addition to his pastoral duties, he worked throughout his life to help the less fortunate. McLaughlin died Aug. 3 of skin cancer. He was 64. As president of the Sonoma County Rental Information and Mediation Service, a landlord-tenant service, he worked to combat discrimination in housing. As a property manager for his own company, McLaughlin and McLaughlin, he provided rentals for many who would otherwise have been homeless. As a member of the Child Care Board of the General Baptist Convention of California, he helped bring together adoptable children and couples seeking to adopt. As president of the Cazadero Baptist Camp board, he kept the camp going through rough times, believing that the camp experience was important. "He really had a heart for people who were having trouble," said his wife, Nancy McLaughlin of Santa Rosa. McLaughlin was born in Shawnee, Okla., where he was student body president at Shawnee High School. He graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1959 and moved with his wife to California, where he attended Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, graduating in 1962. He became pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Sacramento, then in 1970 came to Santa Rosa to be pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church on Sonoma Avenue. He resigned in 1975 to start a new church -- Bennett Valley Baptist Church on Yulupa Avenue -- and was pastor there at the time of his death. "He was a dreamer, but a practical dreamer," Nancy McLaughlin said. "He looked at how institutions had begun, and at one point he decided that someone had to be there at the beginning. It intrigued him to start things." The new church began with services in the old Citicorp building across from the Flamingo Hotel. McLaughlin drew no salary, so he became a real estate broker in order to support his family. He worked first for Properties Unlimited, then he and his wife bought the company and changed the name to McLaughlin and McLaughlin. The real estate business is now closing, but the company's property management arm will remain open, Nancy McLaughlin said. McLaughlin also held a marriage and family counseling license. "It was kind of a joke in our family that he could counsel a couple, marry them, sell them a house and then be their minister," Nancy McLaughlin said. McLaughlin was one of the founders of the Golden Hills Baptist Association, a grouping of Baptist churches in Marin and Sonoma counties. He also helped launch the Santa Rosa East Rotary Club, where his efforts earned him the Paul Harris Fellow Award, the club's highest honor. He was a member of the Sonoma County Board of Realtors, and a past member of the Sonoma County Grand Jury and Santa Rosa Men's Garden Club. In addition to his wife, McLaughlin is survived by his two children, Scott McLaughlin and Stacey Grogan, both of Santa Rosa; his mother, Mattie McLaughlin of Shawnee; and his brothers, Glen McLaughlin of Saratoga and George McLaughlin of Shawnee; and four grandchildren. A memorial celebration will be held Saturday, Aug. 18, at noon at Community Baptist Church in Santa Rosa. Graveside services were held Monday at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Sebastopol. Memorial contributions may be made to Bennett Valley Baptist Church, Chapel Fund, 2718 Tachevah Drive, Santa Rosa 95405. PHOTO: b&w mug: Rev. Homer McLaughlin --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Pottawatomie County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/pottawatomie/pottawatomie.htm