Obituary of Kelly Elizabeth McLaughlin

Born to Tony and Barbara Mclaughlin on December 30, 1976, Kelly Elizabeth Mclaughlin “Liz”, cultivated a life surrounded by the people and things she loved. Liz passed away in her home on February 6th 2024, due to health complications. She is survived by her parents, Anthony and Barbara McLaughlin of Puyallup, WA, her sister, Amy Atkinson of Puyallup, and her nephews and nieces Ethan, Ryan, Ava, and Molly Atkinson. She is also preceded by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins from WA, OR, CA, VA, PA, and OH, and her best friend Gina Mattson Graves (John) and their children of Eagle River, Alaska.

An avid Star Trak devote, Liz not only attended conventions with her fellow “Trekkies” but owns every recording of Star Trek Next Generation. She enjoyed knitting, baking, was a devoted reader of Stephen King, and was your go to source for updates on Deadliest Catch, Extreme Couponing, Parking Wars, and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Liz enjoyed spending time with her family; from lunches with aunts, uncles, and cousins, to going on the family’s annual trip to Ocean Shores, it wasn’t a family event unless Liz was there. She also looked forward to going up to the Carbon river with family where they would spend the day looking for tadpole pools, gathering wood for the campfire, and riding home in the back of her dad’s pickup where she and her sister would gaze at the stars until they fell asleep.

Not only a valued member of her family, Liz was also a fixture of her community. Throughout the years she met many around downtown Puyallup while attending the farmer’s market, or at Costco where she worked for 23 years. Liz was proud of her career at Costco and often let her family know when there was a “deal” on something we needed. Her colleagues remember her fondly and could always count on her punctual nature.

Never forgetting a birthday, Liz was a generous gift giver and loved writing letters to her cousins, aunts, uncles and best friend Gina and her family. Her cousin recalls “she always remembered everyone’s birthday and often sent you a gift card”

Liz’s dedication and enthusiasm about being with family, her hobbies, and her love of animals (especially cats) knows no bounds. She was fiercely independent, recalls every detail of her childhood, and above all else had the self determination to live life on her own terms. Her uniqueness, kindness, and generosity define her.

More than all of this, she should be known not only by what she loves, but that she is beloved.