Chloe Thorp-Laugherty

On December 19, 2015 at the age of 99, Chloe Thorp Laugherty’s journey ended here on earth. She was born on March 26, 1916 in Blanket, Texas to Annie and Leonard Bird. Chloe grew up in Blanket among two brothers and one sister. She attended Howard Payne University and received the honor of Best All Around Athlete. In 1939, Chloe attended Texas Women’s University where she graduated with a BS in Home Economics and began her teaching career in Ballinger, Texas. In November 1940 she married Charles Walker Thorp of Ballinger, Texas. They raised their daughters in Abilene, TX where Chloe taught Home Economics for thirty-five years while she spent her free time playing golf with Charles and attending her daughters’ band and theater performances. Charles and Chloe also lived in Woking England, Oklahoma City and Runaway Bay. Chloe moved to Austin after losing Charles to leukemia in 1990. They had been married three months shy of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Later she married Loyd Laugherty and they have resided in Austin for the past 21 years. Chloe volunteered for Ronald McDonald House, attended water aerobics at the YMCA, and learned to play the auto harp. Chloe and Charles had two daughters, Mikey and her husband Ret. Col. James D. Herndon of Austin, and Janis and Marshall Durham, Jr., of New Braunfels, grandchildren, Tiffany Durham, Kim Durham, Rob Mendiola, and Trace and Sharon Durham. Chloe’s true joys in life are her five great-grandchildren Marshall, Braden, and Bennett Durham, and Chloe and Carlos Mendiola all of San Antonio. Chloe also has two step-grandchildren James V. and his wife Junnette Herndon, and Blake and Cindy Herndon. She is preceded in death by her husband Charles Walker Thorp, T.C. and Helen Bird, and Roy and Mary Bird. Sisters Gladys and Maurine and her husband W. C. Underwood, parents Annie and Leonard Bird. Chloe lived a wonderful life and left people always wanting to be her friend whether they were young or old. Her motto was to “Live your life like your pants are on fire” and oh how she did live! Viewing for Chloe Bird Thorp Laughtery will be held Monday, December 28, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills, 9700 Anderson Mill Rd Austin, TX 78750. To leave a message of remembrance please contact; 512-335-1155 or www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com. Remembrance Service will be held at Riverbend Family Chapel on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at 11:00 am at Riverbend Smith Family Chapel. For directions: www.riverbend.com. Reception to follow service. Internment will be held on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at 4:00 pm at Eastlawn Cemetery at 1921 Early Blvd, Early, TX 76802 under the direction of WEST/HURTT Funeral Home, DeSoto, Texas 75115 (972) 223.6314 www.west-hurttfuneralhome.com