Lonnie Errol McLaughlin lived March 8, 1956 to Dec. 12, 2015. He was a proud Yurok Tribal Member of Karuk descent and lifelong resident of Weitchpec. Lonnie passed with family by his side.

Lonnie was born at Eureka General Hospital. Lonnie was a very loving and giving person. He loved his family very much, he took care of us at all times. Lonnie attended Hoopa High were he met the love of his life, Terry, at the age of 15. They graduated together, and they were always by each other’s side. He started his logger career right out of high school, and he continued as a logger until an injury ended his logging days in 1998.

Lonnie and Terry loved each other very much. Lonnie loved his daughters Elsie and Amy, who were the center of his life. Lonnie was so happy to have grandchildren; they gave him more to love and care for. He cared about his sister Debbie (Steve) and his many nieces and nephews.

Lonnie was known for his caring and positive attitude. His wave to you — no matter what car you were in — was a happy moment and brightened many a day for people up and down the river and often all the way out town. Lonnie spent many hopeful game days watching his 49ers play.

He was preceded in death by his dad and mom, Edgar and Thelma McLaughlin, his two brothers and his sister, aunts and uncles and his favorite cousins F McLaughlin and Billy Person.

Survived by his loving wife Terry, his daughters Elsie (Vincent) and Amy (Tony) and his adoring grandchildren Pectasan, Pachomio, and Hunter. Also by his sister Debora (Steven), and many nieces and nephews, Jennifer and family, Alisha and family, Tyrone and family, SonnyMan and family, Veronica and family, Raymond, Summer and family, the Dowd family, and many cousins and friends near and far. He is also survived by numerous loving family in-laws from Terry’s family.

Lonnie’s family would like to offer thanks to Dr. Uma Suryadevara and all the staff at the St. Joseph
Cancer Center for the thoughtful care that he received.

Internment will take place at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 2, at his home on Mitchell Hill, with his close family and good friends. A Celebration of Life meal will follow at the Yurok Tribal Office in Weitchpec.

###

The obituary above was submitted by Lonnie McLaughlin’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.