FRANKLIN - Mary Alice McLaughlin, nee Archer, 88, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 23, 2020, in Boise, Idaho, at the home of her daughter, Carol McLaughlin, with family by her side.
Born May 15, 1931, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Mary Alice always considered Western North Carolina her home, living briefly in Andrews and raised in Franklin. She was the daughter of the late John Milton Archer Jr. and Beatrice Payne Archer. Mary Alice was an excellent student, valedictorian of her high school class, and a lifelong voracious reader. She instilled a love of reading and curiosity in all her children. Mary Alice graduated from Franklin High School. She attended Meredith College before graduating from Wake Forest College in June 1953.
Mary Alice moved to Washington, D.C. to pursue a career with the National Security Agency, where she met her future husband, Charles McLaughlin. After their wedding in May 1956, they were posted to Nuremberg, Germany. There, friendships were formed that lasted a lifetime. Returning to the United States, Mary Alice devoted herself to raising a family and serving in the communities she and Charlie lived, including Severna Park, Maryland, Omaha, Nebraska, and Seoul, South Korea. Mary Alice returned to Franklin in 1985 after Charlie’s retirement from government service. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Franklin, a member of the Nantahala Hiking Club and Friends of the Greenway, volunteered at Friends of the Library bookstore and Meals on Wheels. She was an avid gardener; along with being a member of numerous garden clubs she always grew vegetables and flowers wherever she lived. Mary Alice studied weaving under Sally Kesler in Cartoogechaye.
Mary Alice is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Thomas McLaughlin, and brother, Dr. John Milton Archer III of Charlotte. She is survived by her children, John McLaughlin of Annapolis, Maryland, Carol McLaughlin of Boise, Idaho, and David (Cathy) McLaughlin of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania; beloved grandchildren, Andrew, Keith, Sara Dixon, Corie, Kate, and Jack McLaughlin; nieces and nephews Mary Catherine (Bobby) Chesney of Charlotte, Virginia (John) Hawley of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Katie (Paul) Harris of Bear, Delaware, John Milton Archer IV and Charles (Kelley) Archer of Charlotte, Grant (Amy) McLaughlin of Seminole, Florida, and Reid (Tonya) McLaughlin of Houston, Texas.
Many thanks to her caregivers Valerie, Allison, Alisa, Alma, Taylor and the staff of Signature Hospice of Boise, Idaho, who made her last months peaceful and comfortable.
A service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, at First Presbyterian Church of Franklin. Reception to follow in Tartan Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Presbyterian Church, 26 Church St., Franklin, NC 28734.
Macon Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements.