1924-2015

SOUTH PARIS — Florence Pope McLaughlin, 90, passed away on Monday, May 18, at Stephens Memorial Hospital.

Florence was born in Minot on Aug. 16, 1924, to Bessie Hersey Pope and Dearborn Pope. She graduated from Paris High School in 1942, where she excelled at basketball.

Florence served as a dedicated member of the Norway-Paris Legion Auxiliary Post 72 for 70 years, also serving as president for six years. She and her late husband, Frederick H. McLaughlin, ran the Junior Legion Baseball team for many years. Together, they also led the Norway-Paris Comets Drum and Bugle Corps for over 15 years. Because of her compassionate involvement in these activities, she was known as “Mom” to a good part of the Oxford Hills community.

Florence demonstrated her patriotism by volunteering as a ballot clerk for 40 years in South Paris. She enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a member of the Biggest Bucks in Maine Club, and was the first female president of the Norway-Paris Fish and Game Club. Florence also served as director and president of the Hungry Hollow Hustlers Snowmobile Club.

Florence was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Frederick H. McLaughlin; her husband, Melvin R. Young; her older brother, Ronald Pope; her younger brother, Richard Pope and his wives, Joanne Pope and Maxine Pope; and granddaughter, Sheri Sherburne.

She is survived by her younger brother, Robert Pope (twin of Richard) and his wife, Mildred Pope; son, Ronald Benson; son, Michael McLaughlin and his fiancee, Pauline Gould; stepdaughter, Muriel McLaughlin Conant; and grandchildren, Ronald Siple, Michele Morrow, Nina McLaughlin Hyssong, Kyra McLaughlin Flaherty, Kelly McLaughlin Hartley, Billie Conant, Chrissy Gooldrup, Ben Conant; as well as Jude Lamb, Ben Conant and Carol Gould, and many loving great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and special friends.