Frances Norma Laurendine McLaney

Frances Norma Laurendine McLaney of Mobile died Friday, October 28, 2011, at a local hospital. She was 91 years old. On November 24th she would have been 92. She was preceded in death by her parents, Chase Medrick Laurendine and Mildred Mansker Laurendine, one sister, Mildred Josephine Laurendine, two brothers, Chase Edmond Laurendine (Ruby Bostwick Laurendine) and Frank Joseph Laurendine (Alma Felps Laurendine.) She is survived by her beloved husband of almost 58 years, Ralph Crystable McLaney and her children, Ralph C. McLaney, Jr. of Mobile, Frances L. McLaney (John H. Rooney) of Miami, Florida and Mildred M. McLaney of New York, New York; her grandchildren, Emily, Erin and Susie McLaney, and John M. Rooney; nieces and nephews who are the children of the late Frank J. and Alma Felps Laurendine, namely, Frank J. "Joe" Laurendine, Jr., Deanna L. Flynn, Chase R. "Bob" Laurendine (Sandra "Sandy" Phillips Laurendine) and Patricia L. Hall (H. Wayne Hall), all of Mobile; numerous great nieces and nephews; cousins, including the late Phillip A. Wittmann and Mary Jo Simmons Wittmann, and their children, Phillip A. Wittmann of New Orleans, Louisiana, Mary Ann Rozsa of Livermore, California and Norma Wittmann Oester of Los Angeles, California. Other cousins include the late John M. Laurendine, Jr. and Eva Myrick Laurendine and their children, John M. Laurendine, lll (Barbara Laurendine) of Mobile, and Barbara L. Mahoney of Mobile, as well as the children of John Morrill and Eunice Moore Laurendine, and the children of Ada and Tom Clark of Pascagoula, Mississippi; numerous other relatives and friends. Mrs. McLaney was a parishioner of Corpus Christi Catholic Church of Mobile for many years. She attended Barton Academy, Convent of Mercy and Murphy High School and received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Alabama. Mrs. McLaney was a Supply Officer at Brookley Air Force Base in Mobile where she was cited for her outstanding work during the Berlin Airlift. Earlier, she ran a lumber depot during World War II in Montgomery where she was Chief Clerk. As a young woman she worked at Kress' in Mobile. After retiring from the federal government, she did a great deal of volunteer work, including helping to create the library at Corpus Christi Catholic School and helping animals. She also served as a substitute teacher at Corpus Christi Catholic School and taught at Head Start in Mobile. Mrs. McLaney, a seventh generation Laurendine, descended from Pierre Laurendine who was one of the earliest settlers of Mobile. Pierre served with the French Colonial Army in Mobile. Pierre's son, J. B. Laurendine, was one of the owners of the St. Louis Tract, one of the largest land grants in Mobile. Proud of her family's heritage and being from Mobile, Mrs. McLaney sought to preserve Bienville Square for which her family had donated land to the City of Mobile. Mrs. McLaney was an active member of the Democratic Party and had a lifelong interest in politics and issues that impacted her beloved City of Mobile. She had a lifelong love of literature and poetry, a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and was a devout Catholic with an abiding faith that permeated everything she did. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from Corpus Christi Catholic Church on Monday, October 31, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be Sunday, October 30, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street. The Rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m. Interment will be in Pine Crest Cemetery.