Reverend Michael Dean McLaurin of Granbury, Texas, was welcomed home Thursday morning, March 17, 2022 by his Heavenly Father.  There a family reunion with his parents, Bob & Virginia, and his son, Andy, was being held.

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, March 10, 1950, his parents, Robert Patrick and Virginia Wells McLaurin, soon took him home to Amite, Louisiana to meet his older brother, Robert Patrick (‘Lil Mac) Jr. They grew up having many smalltown adventures together. A few years later, little sister Ann joined them to complete the family.

From an early age Mike had felt God calling him into the ministry, but he figured he would think about that when he was older. After graduating from Moss Point High School in Moss Point, Mississippi in 1968, he spent a year at Emory & Henry College in Emory, Virginia. Finding Emory a little too cold for his liking, he transferred to Huntingdon College, Montgomery, Alabama where he enjoyed being the Hawk mascot until he earned his Philosophy and Religion degree in 1972. He was older now, and it was time to decide if he was going to answer God’s calling on his life. He decided he would, and headed off to Duke University Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. After the Blue Devil Spirit bit him, he was never the same.

Graduating in 1975 with a Master in Bible and Theology, he returned to the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church where he received his Deacon Orders in 1975 and later was ordained an Elder in full connection with the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. Mike’s first appointment was as an Associate Minister at Ingleside United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge. While there, God arranged for Mike to meet LuAn McMinn, a young Christian Educator from Texas, at a mission trip in Fort Smith, Arkansas. After a year of courting between Weatherford, Texas & Baton Rouge, Louisiana they agreed to marry on August 7, 1976. They both knew God had planned it that way. In 1981 they were blessed with a son, Michael Andrew “Andy” McLaurin, and a few years later were blessed again with a daughter, Megan Amelia McLaurin.

After pastoring 14 United Methodist churches over the course of 42 years, Mike felt it was time to move closer to his grandchild.  After all, “Life is too short not to live in Texas”. Grandson Andrew James “AJ” Hibbetts was growing up too quickly, and his sister Arilyn Cordelia would soon be on the way. So, with mixed feelings, Mike retired in 2017 and with his wife, LuAn, they found their retirement home in Granbury, Texas. But, as we all know, ministers never REALLY retire, and Mike was delighted when he was asked to serve Tolar UMC for two and a half years before “re-retiring”.

Mike will be remembered for his pastoring ministry, his dry wit & corny sense of humor, his love of family as well as friends, his years as “Tabasco Rev.” & his loyalty to the Duke Blue Devil Basketball teams under Coach K, finding the spirit of God’s grace in Disney’s character, Goofy, and loving opportunities to share the Good News.

Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at Wiley Funeral Home, 400 E. U.S. Hwy 377, Granbury, Texas.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 25,2022 at Santo North Cemetery, Hwy. 4, Santo Texas.

A celebration of his life will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, March 25, 2022 at Granbury First United Methodist Church, 301 NE Loop 567, Granbury, Texas.

Mike is preceded in death by his parents, Robert P., Sr. and Virginia Wells McLaurin, and his son, Michael Andrew “Andy” McLaurin. He is survived by his wife, LuAn McLaurin of Granbury, TX; his daughter & son-in-law, Megan & Eric Hibbetts and grandchildren Andrew James “AJ” and Arilyn Cordelia Hibbetts, all of Fort Worth, TX; his brother and sister-in-law, Robert P., Jr. and Susan McLaurin of Saraland, AL; his sister, Ann McLaurin Walton of Baton Rouge, LA; as well as several nieces and nephews, numerous cousins, and countless friends.

For those wishing to give a memorial, the family suggests they consider the Louisiana United Methodist Children & Family Services in Ruston, Louisiana (@ LUMCFS.org).

The family wishes to sincerely thank everyone for their support, prayers and love during these difficult times.

The celebration of Mike’s life at the church will be available through live streaming at https://youtu.be/_0qBm26NpNk.