Julie Lynn (O'Reilly) McLaughlin was born September 7, 1960, at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA. She passed away Thursday, January 26, 2023, surrounded by her family, at her home in Weatherford, OK, at the age of 62 years, 4 months and 19 days.  She was the first of three children born to Robert and Leilani (Evans) O'Reilly.  While growing up, the family traveled extensively, until Julie's father retired from the Navy and opened up his own business in Woodward, OK.  Julie graduated high school and got married in 1978; and to this union, a son was born, James Russell.

Julie had an interest in learning how to make things and she developed an interest in art.  In 1994, Julie received a BA in Commercial Art.  Her favorite medium was watercolor.  A museum curator once ranked Julie among the top ten percent best watercolorists in Oklahoma!

Soon after getting her degree, Julie and Jim moved to Beaver, OK and settled into small town life.  Some of Julie's past times were volunteering at museums, giving art lessons, antiquing, and home improvement projects.

In 2011, Julie went back to school and got her Master's in Art Education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where she met Richard McLaughlin.  In 2014, Julie and Richard became husband and wife.  That same year, Julie started working at SWOSU, until she retired in 2023.

Julie is survived by her husband of 8 years, Richard McLaughlin of their home in Weatherford, OK; her mother, Leilani O'Reilly of Beaver, OK; her son, Jim Russell of Beaver, OK; her step-daughters, Sandra Whaley and husband, Clay of Shawnee, Regene Kennedy and husband, Todd of Shawnee, OK; and step-grandchildren, Blake Kennedy and wife, Caitlin and Baylee Kennedy all of Shawnee, OK.  She was preceded in death by her father, Robert O'Reilly and her brother, Andy O'Reilly.