Flora Laughlin, of Easton, died peacefully on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) at Rising Sun Residential Living in Clovis, California. She was 84.

Flora was born on July 13,1941 at home on the ranch in Easton, California. She was the oldest child, raised by her parents Harry and Flora Osse, along with her two brothers Douglas and Donald, and two sisters, Martha and Lynette. She loved living on Fig Avenue surrounded by neighbors who quickly became family, spending many an evening together under the big shade tree in the back yard on the Osse ranch. Days were spent playing in the nearby canal and cooking while helping tend to her younger siblings. While a student at Washington Union High School, she met a certain Air Force veteran who drove a pink and black Buick. In 1958 once she and that Air Force veteran, Wayne Huggins, were married, Flora was often seen driving that pink and black Buick. It was during this period that she was introduced to her birth father, Alex Ramos, and gained three new siblings in Joann, Sharon and Alex.

In 1960 she found her life's passion when she gave birth to her first born, a son, and they named him Bryan, with some input from Bill Mitchell, Wayne's surrogate father and boss at Cherry Auction. Soon after, in 1962, she had a daughter and named her Harriet after her own father, Harry Osse. They were then, and continued to be, her pride and joy. That pride and joy multiplied when Bryan married Kara in 1979 and gave her 3 grandchildren: Joshua, Nicole, and Rachel. In 1976, Flora and Wayne divorced but remained co-parents and close friends.

Her first job off the ranch was at Cherry Auction with her auctioneer husband.  After the birth of her children, she began driving a school bus for Washington Union High School. She loved driving the bus and found that her chatty, easy-going way with people led her to a variety of jobs– Easton Drug Store, Kerr Rug Company, Admissions at Westland College, Customer Service at Suburban Propane, and Channel 47 in Fresno, making lifelong friends along the way.

Although Flora was hesitant to take a chance on love again, Jim Laughlin managed to win her heart, and they eloped in 1984. They loved following her family's racing team, Tarlton Sprint Cars, even joining the pit crew. They often spent weeks at the coast in their 5th wheel trailer getting to know everyone in their row at Pismo Coast Village. For a short time Flora and Jim became "townies," moving into Fresno, about a mile down the road from daughter Harriet. They enjoyed their time there but eventually landed back in Easton, once again enjoying the country life. Living on Clayton Ave., Flora took in many a stray animal, finding a home for each of them, even if it meant keeping them herself. Sadly, it was also while on Clayton Ave. that Jim became ill and died suddenly after 25 years together.

Flora continued to spend time with her growing family, including great-grandchildren, Brandon, Daniel, and Addison Huggins, and Jaxon and Jordan Patzkowsky. A highlight of this time was when in 2016 Flora spent the Thanksgiving holiday at Disneyland driving the Autotopia with four generations of family. Grandson Joshua remembers her chatting up a Disney Docent while waiting for Peter Pan, the ride with the longest line in the park. Before they knew it, the docent ushered the whole group to the front of the line!

Flora's welcoming personality and sense of humor made everyone feel at home, and her door was always open and her table always set for family, friends, neighbors, friends of friends, her kids' friends, friends of family, and family friends.

Flora Laughlin will be remembered for her love and dedication to family and community, her commitment to caring for any strays - animal and human, and her forever open arms.

A graveside service will be held on April 15, at 10:00 am at the Washington Colony Cemetery at 7318 S. Elm Ave, Fresno, CA 93706. A reception will follow the service at CPDES Hall, 172 W.  Jefferson Ave, Fresno, CA 93706. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Children's Ministry at The Bridge Church of Fresno or the Central California Food Bank.