Betty E Laughlin

Betty Eddine Briggs Laughlin, 84, of Depoe Bay, Oregon passed away peacefully with family by her side on February 22, 2022, in Portland, Oregon. Betty was born on May 1, 1937, in Alton, Illinois to Bessie Wilma Briggs and Edward Emmett Briggs, and spent much of her childhood in the Midwest. She attended Advance High School in Advance, MO., where she was active in many social organizations, music, and sports programs. She lettered in various sports, most-loved fast pitch softball. Betty loved life! She loved life in all its glories. She was a trailblazer for her times, as the first female pitcher to warm up a semi-pro men's softball team with her mean left-handed pitching. She was also among the first female computer operators for the California State Colleges system. Her loves included acting and music. Betty sang with various groups beginning in High School, acted in community musical theater, and sang with the church choir or as a soloist throughout her life. She was a proud member of the Oregon Coast Chorus Sweet Adeline's acapella group in recent years. She enjoyed physical activity too, including swimming and tennis. Betty experienced a variety of careers spending over 30 years in Real Estate, where she focused on helping first time home buyers. Mostly, Betty loved God, she loved her family, she loved her friends, and she really loved eating out. She truly loved meeting new people, and always let people know they were important to her. Betty met the love of her life, William Lee Laughlin (Bill), through family introductions. They married at a little church in Pico Rivera, CA on March 16, 1957, setting off a life of a commitment to God, family, and helping others, especially young people. They would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this year. Betty and Bill survived the loss of two children, Larry Leon Laughlin (age 4,) and Randy Edward Laughlin (age 48). Betty is also preceded in death by her parents, Ed & Bessie Briggs, siblings, Gloria Briggs Stone, Raymond Briggs, as well as numerous relatives and beloved friends. Betty is survived by her husband, Bill; children, Linda Lorie Laughlin Burgess Roy (Mike), Ricky Eugene Laughlin (Kimberley); three grandchildren, Jamie Lee Roy Karn Keene (Steve), Lila Jennifer Roy Williams (Lui), Angela Laine Roy Matthews (George); and nine great grandchildren (Betty would want them named), Jocie, Tanner, Tyler, Braden, Lillian, Gavin, Makela, Olivia, and Kira. Please feel free to donate, in Betty's honor, to either of two local programs that were near and dear to her: Newport Nazarene Church Youth Building fund (https://www. newportnaz.org/) or Music is Instrumental (https://musicisinstrumental.net/). A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2022, 1pm at the Newport Nazarene Church located at 227 NW 12th St, Newport, OR 97365. There will be an open casket viewing from 12pm to 12:30pm, followed by a brief, family-only viewing. The casket will then be closed, and the sanctuary re-opened for seating at 1pm. Interment will be at the Eureka Cemetery located at 1101 NE Yaquina Heights Dr., Newport, OR.

Tributes

Betty E Laughlin

May 1, 1937 - February 22, 2022