Last Wednesday week, the 26th inst., the news that Mrs. McLaughlin was very ill, spread quickly over town. From that time until Friday morning she suffered agony, and although the best medical skill was summoned she died about ten o'clock Friday morning. At her urgent request, Drs. Fulton, Wright and Long of Caddo operated as a last chance to secure one more hope for life; but death followed almost immediately after the operation. The conditions revealed by operating were ulceration and perforation of the Duodenum. Her sufferings were intense, but bored with the fortitude and patience which characterizes a true child of God. She died as she had lived, strong in faith and perfectly submissive to the will of God. When a child we played at Mrs. McLaughlin's home with her two sisters, and thought her such a sweet faced, motherly woman, always kind and gentle but firm for truth and right. Since the years of maturity have come, we think the same and appreciate far deeper the sublime and lovable character and pure life. Mrs. McLaughlin was born at Fort Smith, Ark., and lived there during early childhood. She was a daughter of Major Harlan, who was sheriff of Sebastian county for several years. During the civil war he was made Major General and came with troops to the nation. After the war he located several merchandise interest in the nation--one at Caddo where he then lived, and at Caddo in 1879 Miss Belle Harlan met and married E. C. McLaughlin, a fine, thrifty business man. For twenty-one years this couple have lived very near each other, seldom separated. The greater part of those years was spent in Atoka. Six children blessed their home, but only one remains with the bereaved father--the mother has the majority with her, "over there." God spared her influence to mold and lay a good foundation for the son's character, building and now the structure that is built upon must be attended, guided and perfected by the father. May God strengthen and thoroughly fit him for so great a work. We pray God that the memory of his God loving and fearing mother may always be a stay to Edgar in the hours of temptation that will come to him with each year's experience. Mrs. McLaughlin, perfectly conscious and calm, realizing her condition and small hope for life, bid all good bye before the operation and said she would live for Edgar's sake, but if death came, she was ready to meet her God. "Be a good boy, son, and meet mama in heaven," was her farewell to the boy of her joy and pride. The affectionate farewell to her husband of twenty-one years was without words, and God only knew the pain of that parting. "The songs without words"-how sublimely beautiful! And silence is oft more eloquent than words. Who can see the current that bears the mighty river on and on? Just so in this grand, noble life, one had to be cast upon her bosom's mercies to know the depths of her love and charity. You must come into her life, her home influence, to know its beauties, its grandeur of character. Many of those who rise up and call her blessed. Saturday morning at ten o'clock her remains were taken to the First Baptist Church where Bro. Murrow read God's word to comfort the bereaved, assure the Christians of that Eternity waiting , and to warn those who are not in the fold. Bro. Murrow, as all others, spoke in the highest terms of the life Mrs. McLaughlin had lived. Miss Moore played so soft and sweet a funeral dirge, and Mrs. Clapper left an impression which only time can erase by the singing of that hymn "Some Day We'll Understand." The remains were then borne to the "city on the hill" and the Eastern Star sisters closed the funeral services. We know on the Resurrection morn when the trumpet shall sound and those sleeping shall appear with Christ in the air, Mrs. McLaughlin will be with the Redeemed Hosts.
(The Indian Citizen, June 6, 1899)