Obituary of Helen Louise Laughorne

Helen Louise MacLean Laughorne, beloved wife of Elwynn “Butch” Laughorne and mother of Brent Laughorne and daughter-in-law, Christine Laughorne passed on Tuesday February 7, 2017 after a hard fought battle with kidney disease. She was born October 14, 1945 in Newton, Massachusetts, where she was adopted by William and Ruth MacLean, along with her sister Ruth Frances MacLean Villanueva, who still resides in California to where the family moved to when Helen was ten years old. She graduated in 1963 from Long Beach, (Ca.) Polytechnic High School. She worked several years as a Cosmetologist and a stay at home mom. Later she worked in fast food service for Carl’s Jr. restaurants in California, obtaining a Shift Lead Person. Helen married her soul mate Butch on May 29, 1965 in California. They shared 51 ½ years of love, devotion, and wedding bliss. After retiring from Carl’s Jr. in June of 2004, she and Butch moved to Virginia in August of 2004 to be closer to their son Brent, and to Butch’s family. Helen was a devoted, hardworking, and much loved member of Bethany Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) since 2005. She is survived by the love of her life, Butch; their son, Brent and his wife Christine; a sister, Ruth Villanueva, and her family; sister-in-law, Kaye Edmonds and her husband Walter; brother-in-law, Gene Laughorne and husband George Morfogan; granddaughter, Holly Minnick and her husband Joshua; great granddaughter, Brinley Anne Minnick; two unofficial, but just as loved, granddaughters, Macy and Cayden Ricks; two grand cats, Sasha, and Sophia. Along with several nieces, nephews, extended family members, and “children of her heart”. Helen was preceded by their son, Brian Laughorne, a grand nephew, Jackson Edmonds, her parents, William and Ruth MacLean, and parents-in-law, Alice and Harry Laughorne. The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00pm Saturday February 18, 2017 at Bethany Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 3115 Fleming Avenue, NW, Roanoke, Virginia 24012. The Celebration of Life Service will begin at 2:00p with Pastors Elaine Austin and Matthew Ricks officiating. A Fellowship meal will be served to family and friends following the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations to one of the following charities, Bethany Christian Church, American Kidney Fund www.kidneyfund.org, Angels of Assisi www.angelsofassisi.org, or the Shriners Hospital for Children http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/ in her memory