Arts Alive! has received a $1000.00 donation from the estate of
Iris Inman McLaughlin

IRIS INMAN MCLAUGHLIN

Iris was born Iris Inman on January 3, 1911 at her parent's home in Wheaton. Il. Her family was religious, close
and social with a great love of the arts, especially music. Iris was instructed in the piano at an early age and was quite capable by the time she stated grade school. She continued with her piano lessons and added organ lessons when she had grown enough to reach the pedals of the pump organs. She played the organ in some silent movies and eventually played the piano and organ in many musical productions in Chicago.
She graduated from high school in Wheaton and attended the University of Chicago of Music in the early 30's. She was married in the middle 30's to Russell McLaughlin. They had one son Ron, in 1939.

She was divorced in the late 40's and struggled for years to make ends meet and provide the best opportunities possible for her son. She often found herself working two or three jobs in this regards. She was able to steadily advance her situation until the middle 50's when she bought a house and barn on 5 acres in Lakewood, Wa.,  In the early 60's she decided to build a Mobile Home Park on the five acre plot. She originally could only get financing for 10 spaces and a recreation building. She eventually expanded the park to 39 spaces. During the time of owning the Park, she involved herself in the Moble Home Park Assn. and was Secretary of the organization for many years.

After she sold the Mobile Home Park in the middle 70's, she build a small RV Park near Rainier, Wa. She later sold that and moved to Selleck, Wa. to be near her son and grandchildren. After several years she moved to Enumclaw and bough the small apartment building where she lived until her death. In Enumclaw she was able to immerse herself in the active Arts Community. She was a member of many organizations, including DAR, Eastern Star,
Beta Sigma Phi, League of Women Voters, Enumclaw Arts Commission, Arts Alive, Local Improvements for Enumclaw (Treasurer) and many more community and charitable organizations.

Although she suffered poor health most of her adult life, she was able to persevere and become successful, not only in business, but in the many organizations she enjoyed to say nothing of the many friendships she cultivated.
She died on December 23, 2003 surrounded by her family.