Ronald "Ronnie" Gene Laughlin

Ronald "Ronnie" Gene Laughlin, 77, of Angel Fire, New Mexico, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his children, his family and friends in Florence, AZ, December 16th, 2019. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 50 years, Gerrie Robles Laughlin.
Ronnie was the son of Walt Laughlin and Corine Swindell, La Palma, AZ, born November 27, 1942 in Coolidge, AZ. Ronnie attended school in Coolidge and he graduated from Coolidge High School in 1961. He worked for Olin-Mathieson Chemical Co. of Casa Grande in the Ag Chem industry while attending the University of Arizona where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree. On June 1, 1963, he married Gerrie, a beautiful woman full of humor and grace from the neighboring town of Florence. They welcomed their first child Wendi in 1964 and their son Brandon in 1965.
Ronnie loved to work and he worked hard. He was a handy cowboy and was the President of the Western Pinal Sheriff’s Posse in 1969. He loved raising his foals and he loved music, especially country music. After college he began working for Elanco, once a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company. Soon after joining the corporation Ronnie packed up his family and the moves began. They left Arizona behind and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, corporate headquarters of Eli Lilly. Ronnie was a natural salesman and climbed the corporate ladder quickly. He truly cared about his customers and co-workers and his hard work ethic and contagious motivational inspiration caught the eye of management and the promotions came quickly. Soon the young family was on the move again this time to Atlanta, Georgia. There was lots of travel during those times but not all work. Ron and Gerrie were able to travel to many beautiful and exotic places around the world enjoying a life that they had only dreamt about. One last promotion would find the Laughlin’s packing up and relocating to Dallas, Texas. It was here in this small (at the time) Texas town that Ronnie left the corporate world and returned to his roots. He bought a feed and supply store and began his own chemical application business. Ronnie was an insatiable reader. He was happiest sharing his knowledge with people and soon realized his calling as a consultant, and coach. He left the store and chemical business in his son’s capable hands and began a new training and consulting business, Leadership Resources. He trained, motivated and inspired many people with his wonderful gifts and talents. He and Gerrie eventually moved to the beautiful mountains of Angel Fire, NM. Travel was getting hard and as Ronnie faced retirement he began writing. Encouraged by his wife and family he wrote and published his first book, Conquering Complacency in Sales: Are You Whining Your Way Out of Business. During these years they welcomed their three angels, Zoe, Lexie and Emmah-Gene and spent many glorious days entertaining their family and friends at their beautiful mountain home. After the death of his wife Gerrie, Ronnie began traveling to ease the loneliness. He reconnected with a lost love, and lived out his final days back in Arizona. His daughter hopes that more of his biographical writings of his life in Arizona will eventually be published.
His remarkable life will forever be cherished in the lives of his children: Wendi and Miguel Martinez, Floresville, TX, Brandon Laughlin, Denton, TX; Granddaughters, Zoe Martinez, Lexie Martinez, and Emmah-Gene Laughlin; Fiancé Charlotte Soliven, Hollister, CA; Sister, Sherry Ferguson, Coolidge, AZ, sister, Barbara Johnson; sisters in law, Patsy McDonald, Tucson, AZ, Renee Robles, Valley Farms, AZ, Deon Parrish, Casa Grande, AZ; brothers in law; Hugh Ferguson, Coolidge, AZ, Arthur Robles Jr., Florence, AZ, Steve McDonald, Tucson, AZ; aunts and uncles, William H.V. Laughlin Jr., Coolidge, AZ, Mary Bowden, Buena Vista, CO, Elsie Reeves, Monument, CO; His many devoted nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud handled arrangements.