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PROMISES KEPT: Local couple has 54 years of civic involvement
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Kay and Murle McLaughlin of Lake Milton
They attribute the happiness they’ve shared to making others happy.
By LISA LOSASSO BELL
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
According to Kay and Murle McLaughlin of Lake Milton, being involved in their community has provided them with a long and happy life together.
Their involvement was something Murle felt strongly about before the couple ever married. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 and served in Iwo Jima and Okinawa. “I decided since the Lord sent me home, I would spend my life helping people,” he said.
Once he and Kay were married in 1955, they continued to keep his promise — as a couple. “It would have been five years earlier, but we had to wait until she finished school,” said Murle.
As a result of their 54 years of civic involvement together, the McLaughlins were honored by Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and First Lady Frances Strickland with the Joined Hearts in Giving Couples Award in 2008.
Joined Hearts honors Ohioans married 40 years or longer who are at least 60 years old and who share a commitment to volunteerism. The Ohio Department of Aging, in partnership with the First Lady of Ohio, honors the couples at a reception on Valentine’s Day at the Governor’s residence in Columbus.
When it all began
Kay started school in Lake Milton at the age of 6 after moving from Indiana, Pa., with her parents, who were both employed by Goodyear.
Murle’s family moved around as he was growing up, and he found his home in Lake Milton in 1946 at the age of 20. “I’ve been here ever since,” he said.
In 1936, Murle had joined the Cub Scouts at age 10 and two years later became a Boy Scout.
The couple first met in 1950 when, at that time, he was Kay’s brother’s Scout Master.
The scouting tradition continued when the couple’s son was old enough to join and Kay became a Cub Den Mother, serving for many years and eventually becoming commissioner.
“Everything in my life has been a chain. … One thing led to another,” said Murle.
Murle served in the Boy Scouts for a total of 50 years. “I made a lot of good friends,” he said.
Joint efforts
Both Murle and Kay, who have one son and two granddaughters, are active with the Craig Beach Fire Department and the Ohio State Park, where he teaches living history and she serves lunches on clean-up and school days.
They also run a children’s game tent at the State Park Haunted Trail for three weekends in October.
In 1947 Murle founded and continues to be active with American Legion Post 737, where Kay has been an auxiliary member for 52 years.
She has also served as chairwoman and president and helps to prepare funeral dinners.
Murle also serves on the American Legion Honor Guard Team for military funerals at the National Cemetery in Rittman.
A retiree of Jackson-Milton middle and elementary schools, Murle worked in building maintenance. “I loved that job more than any other job I’ve ever had,” he said.
He and Kay volunteer together at the schools teaching American Indian history and providing Veterans Day and Americanism programs.
The couple have been active with the Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years and continue to organize a Christmas food delivery every year to about 20 families. “We get a lot of help from the community, too,” said Murle.
Giving back to veterans
The McLaughlins also volunteer their time at the VA Clinic, for which Murle just received his 400-hour pin from the American Veterans Association.
Kay and Murle were co-chairs for the Veterans Memorial Project, which was a year and a half in the making.
In 2008 a memorial monument was established in honor of all veterans of all wars and was dedicated by the citizens of the Lake Milton area.
“It was a very rewarding experience,” said Murle.
Having been a photographer for 63 years, Murle founded the Lake Milton Historical Society, and the couple published the Lake Milton Area Calendar, 2010, compiled by the Lake Milton Historical Society, with the help of Murle’s secretary, Ginny Wolf, who is editor of the Blue Jay Review. Many of his original photographs were used.
Murle has served on the township Zoning Board of Appeals, and the couple have served many other organizations throughout the years.
Also active with several senior groups, the couple say it is important to keep your body and mind busy.
“We’ve never had much, but we’ve always been happy and we’ve made others happy,” said Murle.
“We’ve been so busy the past 10 years; I don’t know where the time went.”