Hugh Carl Laughlin
Marriages
Lu Ann Laughlin
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 5A - July 12, 2023
Hugh Carl Laughlin died
on June 26, 2023, of complications from cirrhosis of the
liver of unknown causes, he
never drank or had hepatitis.
He was 86 years old.
Hugh was the son of
Carvel Hugh Laughlin and
Carvel’s wife, Fern Ione
Laughlin. He was born and
raised in Farmington, New
Mexico and graduated from
Farmington High School in
1955.
Hugh’s first job was at
May’s Bakery when he was
14 years old. Afterwards he
was trained by his father-in-law Lloyd Hubbard to be
a meat cutter at Hubbard’s
Meat and Grocery, the family business. He worked at
Hubbard’s from 1951 until
1971 in Farmington, NM.
While still in Farmington, Hugh became a Staff Sergeant
in the National Guard and was awarded the Battery ‘A’
717th Outstanding National Guardsman in 1957. He was
also a competition marksman in the National Guard and
won the 1962 Hi Score Carbine Award for Battery C.
On June 14, 1964, Hugh was seriously injured in a
National Guard rollover jeep accident that broke his pelvis,
leg, and shoulder. Hugh had O negative blood type and miraculously one of the paramedics also had O negative and
gave him blood that saved his life. He was in traction for 12
weeks and subsequently in a spica cast and spent the next 2
years in and out of hospitals. He was rehabilitated to walk
again enabling him to enjoy an active life, even able to run
marathons after his recovery.
When Hubbard’s closed late in 1971, Hugh moved his
family to Grand Junction, CO to work for City Market as a
meat cutter and meat department manager. He worked for
City Market from January 1972 to July 1999.
Hugh was also a Union Steward for the United Food
and Commercial Workers Local 7R of Denver, CO and was
awarded an Honorary Life Membership in October 1999.
Hugh loved the outdoors. He was an avid bow, muzzleloader, and rifle hunter and looked forward to deer, elk, and
turkey season every year. He was also an expert trapper.
Hugh was an exceptional fly fisherman as well and enjoyed
fishing in clear mountain creeks for trout with artificial
flies that he tied himself. He especially liked fly fishing
Hermosa, East Lime, and Cascade Creeks. Hugh’s wishes are to have his ashes scattered near the headwaters of
Cascade Creek at the base of Engineer Mountain.
Hugh is survived by his wife, Lu Ann Laughlin, his son
Darren Ray Laughlin, his daughter Cheryl Lynn Goodale,
and her husband Mark, his daughter Carrie Ann Garza, and
her husband Vance. He is also survived by his brothers
Carvel Eugene (Gene) Laughlin, Andrew Laughlin, and
Andrew’s wife, Kaye, and his sister, Edith (Edie) Maurine
Laughlin. He left behind a large extended family in
Colorado, New Mexico, and Alaska.
Hugh’s Memorial Service will be held on August 19,
2023, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Brown’s Cremation
and Funeral Service located at 904 North 7th Street Grand
Junction, CO 81501. The reception will subsequently be
held from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Ale House located at
2531 North 12th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501.
