Nadine McLaughlin's Obituary
Nadine McLaughlin, 102.5 years old of Fayetteville, AR passed away on Saturday, March 30, 2024. She was born September 1, 1921 to Carl Arthur Wickman and Ramona McKamy Wickman in Eli, Nebraska. She, along with her sisters, grew up ice skating on the frozen ponds in Nebraska and would also catch, clean, and sell catfish to the railroad workers passing through for a nickel each.
Nadine graduated in 1940 from Van Zant business school in Omaha. She worked as a secretary at Dunhall in Gravette, AR; the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR; and retired in her 70’s from Du-More in Rogers, AR so she could travel and spend time with her family.
She moved from Valentine, Nebraska to Gravette, AR in 1952 along with her children Jerilyn, Jaylene and Jim. It was there that she met the love of her life, Ray McLaughlin, the local butcher. They married in Gravette in 1957 and had a daughter, Christi, in 1959. Nadine and Ray had a marriage full of love and friendly competitions in the kitchen (such as who made the best fried chicken or turkey dressing). After Ray passed away in 1978, Nadine moved to Fayetteville, AR in 1980 to be closer to family.
Her children were her pride and joy. Family always came first and she would drop everything to make a fresh batch of her famous homemade cinnamon rolls when anyone came to visit. There was never a day where she didn’t call and talk to each one of them to discuss the birds, the grandkids, the weather, gas prices, etc.
The Arkansas Razorbacks became a favorite for her to watch throughout the years. She became known by her grandchildren as Grandma Arkansas or Grandma Razorback. She and Ray had football season tickets for decades. In the past 10 years she became an avid Razorback baseball fan. She never missed watching a game while wearing her favorite color, razorback red.
In retirement she loved visiting her kids, grandkids, great grandkids, and great great grandkids that live all over the country and abroad. She regularly attended soccer games & tournaments, swim meets, school events, musical performances and graduations. Playing cards and board games became a fun pastime for her as well. She was stiff competition playing against her daughter, Christi and granddaughter, Courtney. She also enjoyed competing with Christi as to who could attract the first hummingbird and Baltimore oriole each spring. She was a woman of great faithfulness and loved attending church on Sundays. She especially enjoyed the worship music.
Nadine was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; daughter, Jerilyn; parents, Art and Ramona; great grandson, Ean; sisters, Elvira and Elaine; and her newborn son, Arthur; She is survived in life by her children, Jaylene, Jim, and Christi, along with 10 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren.
A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville, AR. A graveside burial will be held at Bethel Cemetery in Gravette, AR.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to either of the following in honor of Nadine McLaughlin:
https://www.rmhcarkansas.org/donate.html
Or
https://support.archildrens.org/give/280202/#!/donation/checkout choose Arkansas Children’s Northwest Hospital under “What would you like your donation to support?”.
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