Obituary of Emma Katherine McLaughlin

Emma Katherine Hustler McLaughlin (90) passed away from lymphoma cancer at home on 24 May 2022. Emma was first born child of Robert and Katheran (Hayter) Hustler on 30 May 1931, in a country log cabin built by her father in east Goosehaven near St. Maries. Seven years later, sister Marilyn was born in the same log cabin. Emma loved telling everyone she was a lifelong resident of St. Maries. She had a fantastic memory and she loved sharing history about the area. Emma was a tomboy at heart. She loved driving the team of horses during haying season or riding the horse pulling a cultivator in Hustler’s big garden from the time she was 5 years old. During her last 2 years of high school, she worked at Murphy’s Corner and shared fond memories of those times. After graduation in 1949, she was hired as a telephone switchboard operator for General Telephone in St. Maries. On 12 February 1950, Glenn McLaughlin and Emma were married in the Hustler country home (no longer the log cabin as it burned in 1945). Emma and Glenn loved to dance and rarely missed Saturday night dances. In 1961, they bought 15 acres of land, built their home, and continued raising their family. Here, they all enjoyed country living. They got 4-H horses for the girls and they raised a big garden. Emma did lots of canning every summer. She and Glenn worked hard on numerous projects on their property. Emma had a “green thumb” and she enjoyed growing all kinds of flowers, especially roses. Emma also worked as a teller at First Security Bank. In 1970, Glenn and Emma got the contract mail route from St. Maries to Harrison to Medimont. She helped sort mail each morning before Glenn drove the route. Over the years, Emma enjoyed doing many hobbies and crafts, including making dresses for three little girls, Connie, Margie, and Janet. Emma excelled in every craft she did - sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, Brazilian embroidery, hardanger, cross-stitch, ceramics, making and dressing porcelain dolls, painting, leather tooling, wood carving, Indian beadwork, needle wool felting, basket weaving, and making greeting cards. Emma is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Margie McLaughlin Cameron (Bill) of Missoula, MT and Janet McLaughlin Scott (Michael) of Silverdale, WA; grandson Thomas Scott of Clarksville, TN; nieces - Mary Casey, Jeanne Sandblom, Karen McLaughlin, Sandra Bullock, Heather Casey, Michelle Correll, and Carsen DePartee; nephews - Robert DePartee, Zac DePartee USN, and Jacob DePartee USN; brothers-in-law – Nelson DePartee and Emmett McLaughlin; also many cousins and friends. Emma was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Glenn McLaughlin; daughter and son-in-law Connie McLaughlin Gibbar and Richard Gibbar; sister, Marilyn Hustler DePartee. Memorial Service is Thursday, 2 June at 11:30, at The Community Presbyterian Church with Pastor John Owen officiating. Final resting place will be Woodlawn Cemetery Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial to Spay-Neuter Clinic c/o Peggy Imbrie at Benewah Humane Society, 53 Robinson Lane, St. Maries, ID 83861; Light the Cross c/o Ginny Oaks, 1117 Main Ave, St. Maries, ID 83861; or Connie McLaughlin Gibbar Music Scholarship, Lewis-Clark State College, 500 8th Avenue, Lewiston, ID 83501.