Wednesday, December 14, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
15
Obituaries
Michael Hugh McLaughlin
March 21, 1960 — fovember 25, 2016
Michael
Hugh
McLaughlin of Sisters
passed away at his home
on November 25, 2016 in
the loving arms of his wife,
Karen.
Michael was born on
March 21, 1960 in Medford,
the son of Richard K. and
Betty Jane McLaughlin.
He was a 1979 graduate of
Medford Senior High School
and a 1983 graduate of the
University of Oregon.
On March 11, 1989,
Michael married Karen
Anne Kessinger, his best
friend through life. Together
Michael and Karen had two
great kids, Audrey Anne
McLaughlin of Carbondale,
Colorado; and Staff
Sergeant Hayden Michael
McLaughlin, USAF, of
Mountain Home, Idaho.
Following graduation
from college, Michael began
a career in the lumber busi-
ness as a lumber broker, spe-
cializing in the NW green
Douglas fir market. Michael
loved the industry, and espe-
cially enjoyed the people he
worked with and met through
his business dealings.
Michael continued his trading
activities as the West Coast
sales manager for Timberline
Forest Products up until his
death.
Michael had a love for
adventure and a boundless
enthusiasm for life. He was
passionate about experienc-
ing the outdoors with his
family and pet dog in tow. He
especially enjoyed the road
cycling and mountain biking
the Northwest offered — log-
ging hundreds of miles of
beautiful countryside roads
and mountain trails. He was
also an accomplished down-
hill and cross-country skier,
always looking for that
steeper slope or untracked
powder.
Michael often took to the
trail, backpacking and climb-
ing many areas and moun-
tains of the Pacific Northwest.
In the late 1980s, as a resident
of Washington state, he sailed
extensively the waters of the
Puget Sound, the San Juan
Islands and the Canadian
Gulf Islands. Mike’s love of
the outdoors stretches back
to his youth growing up in
Southern Oregon. His fam-
ily and friends are eternally
grateful to have experienced
these good times and adven-
tures with him.
During his spare time,
Michael and Karen built or
remodeled 5 beautiful and
unique homes on the Oregon
Coast, in the Portland area
and most recently their fam-
ily home in Sisters. Before
moving to Central Oregon,
Michael and his family spent
13 years on a farm in the
historical Swiss countryside
of Helvetia — where they
farmed, raised their children
and ran a seasonal U-cut
Christmas tree business.
Michael was inherently
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positive and optimistic about
life, even through his tough
battle with cancer. He was
always ready and willing
to help a friend, no matter
what the need or time of day.
Michael had a strong call-
ing to give back to the com-
munity, and following his
move to Sisters he became
a volunteer firefighter for
the Sisters-Camp Sherman
Fire District. During his time
with the department, he was
given the Lifesaving Award
for Exemplary Service. In
the end, it was his broth-
ers and sisters of the Sisters
Fire District who gave back
to him at his greatest time
of need. Michael and Karen
will be forever grateful to
these outstanding and self-
less firefighters, EMTs and
volunteers.
Michael will be forever
loved and missed
“End? No, the journey
doesn’t end here. Death is
just another path, one that we
all must take. The grey rain-
curtain of this world rolls
back, and all turns to silver
glass, and then you see it.”
— J.R.R. Tolkein
Michael is survived by
his wife of 27 years, Karen
Anne as well as his daughter
Audrey Anne and son Hayden
Michael. He was proceeded
in death by his father Richard
K. McLaughlin in 2015.
Michael is also survived
by his mother, Betty Jane
McLaughlin of Medford;
and his four brothers includ-
ing Steve (Julia) of Seabeck,
Washington; Dave (Julie) of
Medford; Mark (Laurie) of
Issaquah, Washington; and
Andy (Tami) of Bozeman,
Montana; and nine nieces and
nephews.
The family would like
all remembrances/contribu-
tions made to the Sisters-
Camp Sherman Volunteer
Association.
A memorial service is
scheduled for January 27, 1
p.m. at Sisters Community
Church.