Margaret "Muggs" Jean McLaughlin

Margaret Jean McLaughlin died early morning November 30, 2023. She passed away in the same manner she lived--quietly and privately in her home.

Margaret, a.k.a. Muggs, was born December 1, 1943, in Mankato along with her twin sister, Mary, to Myles and Margaret Smith. She graduated from Good Counsel Academy in 1961. She married James McLaughlin on May 21, 1971. For 51 years they lived in North Mankato where they raised their son, Michael.

Muggs’ kitchen table was often covered in puzzles and library books. She challenged herself to complete crypto cipher and word finds. She loved to read and play a mean game of cribbage. Every summer, Muggs grew and canned vegetables. She enjoyed sitting in her yard at the picnic table observing the butterflies and birds. She hosted weekly dinners for her granddaughters, and each Christmas, she knitted them hats and scarves.

Muggs thrived in her North Mankato neighborhood where she felt connected to her community of neighbors. She could stand on her sidewalk, look in all directions, and note the names of all who lived near her. Her lifelong friends and yearly traditions meant a lot to her. Muggs consistently put birthday cards in the mail to be delivered and opened on time.

Muggs is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Carey McLaughlin and children, Melisandra, Corrigan, Reece. She is survived by in-laws, Chas McLaughlin and Denny and Lynda McLaughlin as well as nieces, nephews, and their spouses: Jessica McLaughlin and Tim Wright; Jolene McLaughlin; Lee and Blair McLaughlin and children, Morgan and Will; Jay McLaughlin; Casey and Madeleine McLaughlin and Lucas, Sophia, Ronan; Mark Reich and Kim Hickey and Emilie and Ella. She is preceded in death by her husband, James Dorn McLaughlin; her parents, Myles and Margaret Smith; sister, Mary McLaughlin; brother and sister-in-law, Wally and Terry Reich.

Please join the family for a celebration of Muggs’ life on December 23, 2023 from 2-4 p.m. at Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato.