Elizabeth Laughlin

Elizabeth A. Laughlin, age 96, of Kalamazoo, MI passed away January 30, 2016 at home, the last surviving sibling of five. Elizabeth was born July 9, 1919 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Michael and Mary (Rusczyak) Beelick. She graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1937. Early in her senior year, Liz was riding her bike in downtown Kalamazoo on a Sunday when she saw a young man escorting his mother home from church; she hoped she'd see him again, the next week Liz and a girlfriend decided to go to the roller rink on Portage St. he was there skating. They talked, dated and became engaged. She married Raymond Laughlin the love of her life in August of 1937. In her lifetime, Liz has worked at the Kalamazoo Laundry, Sled Company, Stove Company, C.L. Mahoney, and Eaton's of Battle Creek. Later on Liz and Ray traded in their roller skates for dancing shoes. They danced throughout their lives and into their senior years winning many first place ribbons at the West Michigan Senior Olympics. They danced at many venues, but the VFW in Comstock and Burnham Brook in Battle Creek were their favorites. They danced into their eighties until the infirmities of old age and finally death took her partner in 2005. As the years passed and old age took its toll on Liz's mind and body she would often ask "Where's Dad?" It is hoped that in her dreams a band is playing while these two souls in love dance into the night. Surviving is a son, Raymond Laughlin; daughter, Patricia (Daryl) Trasier; four grandchildren, Derek Crawford, Stacey (Dean) Shaddy, Burch Laughlin, Scott Laughlin; brother-in-law, Robert Wigand; several nieces & nephews and many relatives in Lublin, Poland. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, Lewis Beelick; three sisters, Kate King, Stella Cairns, Wanda Wigand. Friends are being received 1 1:30pm Thursday February 4, 2016 at St. Monica Catholic Church where Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated following at 1:30 pm. Interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Monica Church.