Ralph "Jerry" Laughlin

Long time Taos resident Jerry Laughlin passed away on March 16th after living a full, active life.  Born in 1926 in the tiny town of Gotebo, Oklahoma, he graduated from high school in Oklahoma City in 1944 and immediately enlisted in the Navy at 17 years old.  From 1944 to 1946 he served in the Pacific Theater aboard the sub chaser USS PCE 902 as a Motor Machinist Mate 2nd Class Petty Officer. Upon leaving the Navy (with several awards and citations) he attended Oklahoma State University on the GI Bill, graduating in 1950 with a degree in Forestry and Studies in Civil Engineering.  Proud to be the first of his family to attend college, he often encouraged his children and grandchildren to do so too.

Jerry moved to Taos in 1955 to become part of the bourgeoning ski industry, helping build and manage the Hondo Lodge as well as helping to install the first lift at Taos Ski Valley.  While in Taos he met Virginia Chavez and they were married in 1957,  remaining so until his death.  They both had many adventures, from raising children and grandchildren to skiing all over the west to building a house together in Tijeras, NM to travelling to various parts of the world and owning the Chavez-Laughlin Gambles Hardware Store in Taos from 1970 until 1982.

Having earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts as a teenager, Jerry had a strong “can do” attitude and had several careers over his lifetime: government and private forestry, lumber and specialty woods sales, Construction Engineer (building power plants in Texas), Ski Instructor, Ski Patroller, Ski Lodge Manger, hardware store owner and general entrepreneur.  His hobbies include raising Quarter Horses, snow skiing, water skiing, and earning his pilot’s license at 72 years old, a lifelong dream of his.  Jerry was active in the Lions Club, the Civil Air Patrol, V.F.W.-D.A.V.WW II, Crime Stoppers and Kit Carson Electric Advisory Committee.  He was a staunch supporter of the Not Forgotten Outreach veteran program and was instrumental in helping to establish a transportation network for veterans seeking to travel from Taos County to the Veteran’s Hospital in Albuquerque.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Minnie Mae Laughlin, sister and brother in law, Sue and CW Browning, niece, Vicki Newell, in laws, Bernabe and Anita Chavez, brother in law, David Ernesto Chavez. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Virginia Chavez Laughlin, daughter, Lisa Laughlin (Roye Fulton), son, Michael Laughlin (Renee), granddaughters, Olivia Fulton, Maria Fulton, Keshia Hodge (Justin), grandson, Kail Laughlin, great grandchildren, Ary and Jaxson Hodge and numerous nieces and nephews.  He will be loved and missed by all of us whose lives he helped to shape, mold and inspire.

A memorial celebrating his life will be held at Rivera Family Funeral Home in Taos on Sunday, March 26th at 4:00 PM in the afternoon.  Interment will be the following day, Monday, March 27th at the Veteran’s National Cemetery in Santa Fe at 12:30 PM. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Not Forgotten Outreach. Not Forgotten Outreach-575-224-1503 610 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM 87571 notforgottenoutreach.org.

Arrangements by Rivera Family Funeral Home. To share a memory, please visit our website at www.riverafuneralhome.com