Dennis E. Mclaughlin

Dennis E. McLaughlin, 70, died Dec. 29 at his home in Elgin.

Dennis was born April 6, 1939, to Kathleen and Talbot McLaughlin in Pocatello, Idaho.

He graduated from La Grande High School in 1957. He retired from Union Pacific railroad in 2001 after 40-plus years as a conductor/brakeman.

Dennis was an avid golfer, loved to read a good book, spent countless hours online reading political blogs and was a huge Neil Diamond fan, traveling nationwide to see his concerts.

Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Toni, of Elgin; five daughters, Leatha and Jeff Canfield of La Grande, Lynne and Ron Schmittle of Lewiston, Idaho, Tracy and Dennis Higgins of Elgin, Margo Tameris of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Tana McLaughlin of Gresham; three brothers; one sister; four nephews; seven nieces; 15 grandchildren; and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

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