1922
Elsie
2009
Elsie Merritt O'Laughlin
November 19, 1922 — June 11, 2009
ELSIE MERRIT O'LAUGHLIN
Elsie Merritt O'Laughlin, 86, died June 11, 2009, in Decatur, Georgia, next to Atlanta, where she lived for 1 1/2 years with her family.
She was born November 19, 1922, in the south Georgia community of Ambrose and lived most of her life in Fort Pierce, Florida. Elsie was the first female attorney, first female Judge of Small Claims Court and first female Bar Association President of St. Lucie County, FL.
Elsie was a child of the Depression era and a teenager during World War II. She taught school during the war, and, in 1945, was one of only three women to enter Stetson Law School in Florida.
While at Stetson, she met her future husband, Leroy "Red" O'Laughlin, a D-Day paratrooper and later to become Mayor of Fort Pierce, FL and in 1948 they became attorneys and married. They formed the law practice of O'Laughlin & O'Laughlin and practiced law for almost 40 years until Mr. O'Laughlin's death in 1995. As was the practice at the time for the few women lawyers, her practice consisted of wills, trusts, estate law and later expanded into family law. Among her cases she represented the Estate of Zora Neale Hurston.
Elsie was an extraordinary and inspiring, yet self-effacing person who will be greatly missed.
Survivors include her three children, John O'Laughlin (Mary O'Laughlin) of Vero Beach, FL, Kathleen Jayson (Ron Jayson) of Decatur, GA and Nora Summerlin of Fort Pierce, FL; her beloved grandchildren: Elysa Dowis (Eddie Dowis), Amy DeWitt, Kerry Gardocki and Chapin Gardocki; step-grandchildren Alexander Jacobs (Amy Jacobs) and Lindsay Jacobs; great-grandchildren Jonathan DeWitt, Zachary Dowis, Clayton Dowis and Tanner Hess; step-great grandchildren Owen Jacobs and Leah Jacobs; niece, Mary Knowles and nephew Bruce Knowles. She is preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Red O'Laughlin and her beloved sister and lifelong friend, Clorene Knowles ("Queen").
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Lucie County Regional History Center, 414 Seaway Drive, Ft. Pierce, FL 34950 or the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, P. O. Box 2000, Boys Ranch, FL 32064.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2009 from 2 to 3 PM, followed by a Memorial Service at 3:00 PM at Haisley Funeral Home Chapel.
Elsie Merritt O'Laughlin, 86, died June 11, 2009, in Decatur, Georgia, next to Atlanta, where she lived for 1 1/2 years with her family.
She was born November 19, 1922, in the south Georgia community of Ambrose and lived most of her life in Fort Pierce, Florida. Elsie was the first female attorney, first female Judge of Small Claims Court and first female Bar Association President of St. Lucie County, FL.
Elsie was a child of the Depression era and a teenager during World War II. She taught school during the war, and, in 1945, was one of only three women to enter Stetson Law School in Florida.
While at Stetson, she met her future husband, Leroy "Red" O'Laughlin, a D-Day paratrooper and later to become Mayor of Fort Pierce, FL and in 1948 they became attorneys and married. They formed the law practice of O'Laughlin & O'Laughlin and practiced law for almost 40 years until Mr. O'Laughlin's death in 1995. As was the practice at the time for the few women lawyers, her practice consisted of wills, trusts, estate law and later expanded into family law. Among her cases she represented the Estate of Zora Neale Hurston.
Elsie was an extraordinary and inspiring, yet self-effacing person who will be greatly missed.
Survivors include her three children, John O'Laughlin (Mary O'Laughlin) of Vero Beach, FL, Kathleen Jayson (Ron Jayson) of Decatur, GA and Nora Summerlin of Fort Pierce, FL; her beloved grandchildren: Elysa Dowis (Eddie Dowis), Amy DeWitt, Kerry Gardocki and Chapin Gardocki; step-grandchildren Alexander Jacobs (Amy Jacobs) and Lindsay Jacobs; great-grandchildren Jonathan DeWitt, Zachary Dowis, Clayton Dowis and Tanner Hess; step-great grandchildren Owen Jacobs and Leah Jacobs; niece, Mary Knowles and nephew Bruce Knowles. She is preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Red O'Laughlin and her beloved sister and lifelong friend, Clorene Knowles ("Queen").
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Lucie County Regional History Center, 414 Seaway Drive, Ft. Pierce, FL 34950 or the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, P. O. Box 2000, Boys Ranch, FL 32064.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2009 from 2 to 3 PM, followed by a Memorial Service at 3:00 PM at Haisley Funeral Home Chapel.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Elsie Merritt O'Laughlin, please visit our flower store.
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