The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

James “Jimmy” “Tar Baby” Laughlin, 89, of Orange, died Saturday, Aug. 4. Funeral services will be at 10:00 am Tuesday, Aug. 7, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Pastor John Boutte of First Christian Church of Vidor. Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange.

Visitation will be from 5:00 - 8:00 pm, Monday at the funeral home.

Born in Edgerly, LA, on Oct. 19, 1922, James was the son of John and Leona Bell (Tarver) Laughlin. He was a Union Pipefitter for 50 years for Local 195, served in the US Navy, and was a member of First Christian Church of Orange.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Wauldine Block Laughlin; daughter, Jimmie Faye Janise; brothers, Milton, Sydney, Nathan, Curtis and Cecil Laughlin; and sister Hilda Beatrice Miller.

James is survived by his daughter, Kathy Smith and her husband John of Orange; grandchildren, Jonathan James Smith, Keenan Lee Smith, Meagan Spencer Day, Kaleb Joseph Janise, and Devin Janise; and three great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Rita and Mary Lou for their love, support and help with their uncle in his final years.