Amy Mclaughlin

Amy McLaughlin died in her sleep at her home in San Angelo on Monday, June 7, 2011. A woman whose remarkable outer beauty and grace were eclipsed only by her inner strength, beauty and grace, Amy was a much beloved and adored wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt, and a friend to all she met.

Amy was born to David and Thelma Munson Johnson of San Antonio on September 6, 1932. Her grandfather, August Johnson, was a native of Sweden who emigrated to Texas in 1905. He and his wife Hannah Samuelson, also a native of Sweden, raised seven sons, including her father, on a farm in Williamson County near Hutto. Her mother Thelma was also of Swedish stock from St. Paul, Minnesota.

After their father’s untimely death in 1942, Amy and her sisters Nancy and Lynn were raised single-handedly by their mother, who supported the family as a schoolteacher in the San Antonio public schools. Her mother’s strong but quiet and gentle determination instilled in Amy and her sisters the character to do only what is right, good and a credit to God and her family.

Honors for Amy began early in her life, when as a student at Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio she was selected by the local Joske’s department store as Miss Teena Texas, earning a prize trip to New York. Amy was elected also as Major of the Lassos, the high school girls’ pep squad. Just recently, Amy received a letter from the woman who succeeded her as Major and had heard of her illness. Although the two had not seen or talked to each other since high school, Amy’s successor told Amy how much she had looked up to her and had worked hard to emulate Amy’s graceful style and leadership throughout her life.

At The University of Texas at Austin, Amy was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, elected Secretary of the student body and selected a Bluebonnet Belle by the Cactus yearbook. She graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science degree concentrating in Home Economics, now known as Human Ecology, shortly before marrying Mark McLaughlin, himself a recent graduate of The University’s undergraduate and law schools. The two lived in Sheppard AFB, Austin and Snyder before making San Angelo their home in 1965.

Amy and Mark had four children: a son Michael, who died in infancy, a daughter Laure, who lives in Austin, and sons Brian and Matthew. Brian and his wife Cynthia live in Midland with their children Claire, Blake and Annie. Matt and his wife Melissa live in Fort Worth with their children Stuart, Sarah and Emily.

Although Amy’s devotion to and pride in her family and especially her grandchildren were unmatched, her pride in her civic work in San Angelo and with UT followed closely. In San Angelo, Amy served as President of the San Angelo Junior League and was a long-time board member or officer of the Fort Concho National Historic Landmark, the San Angelo Cultural Affairs Council and the San Angelo Symphony Society.

At UT in 1982, Amy was honored by the Department of Human Ecology in the College of Natural Sciences with the establishment of the Amy Johnson McLaughlin Professorship in Home Economics. In 2001, she was co-chair of a committee raising funds to build the new Seay Building, now housing some of the Human Ecology departments. In appreciation of her efforts, UT named a foyer in the building in her honor. More recently, UT established yet another chair in Amy’s honor within the Department of Human Ecology to support teaching excellence.

Even as her body was failing, Amy’s keen interest in those around her never waned. Self-effacing to the end, Amy gently rebuffed questions about herself so she could hear from her friends and family about their lives. Amy also insisted that all who came to visit or brought food or flowers understood that their presence and their gifts were appreciated.

Amy’s family wishes to thank all of Amy’s friends and confidants for their loyal, unwavering support during this difficult time. The family especially wishes to thank the staff of Hospice of San Angelo, Dr. Fazlur Rahman, Dr. J. T. Granaghan and especially Marsha Roche for their tender and constant care.

The family will host a visitation at the Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd, 3355 West Beauregard in San Angelo on Thursday, June 9 from 5 to 7 p.m.

A celebration of Amy’s life will be held Friday, June 10, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 37 East Beauregard in San Angelo, following a private family graveside service. Arrangements are by Johnson’s Funeral Home. Amy’s friends and family may contribute to the Amy McLaughlin Memorial Scholarship at the San Angelo Area Foundation, 2201 Sherwood Way, Suite 205, San Angelo 76901, to support a local student in their studies within the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin.

Family and friends may sign an online guestbook at johnsons-funeralhome.com