Carlee Elizabeth MCLAUGHLIN

MCLAUGHLIN, Carlee Elizabeth Born Sept. 14, 1970 Died Oct. 19, 2010 Carlee was born in Santa Monica, California in 1970. She was diagnosed very young with "early infantile autism" and she attended the UCLA Rehab Center at 18 months of age. At three years old she became the first student at the Brentwood Center for Educational Therapy which was run by John Kelley. She attended the Marianne Frostig School, Park Century School, and graduated from Landmark School. Carlee then attended Leslie College in Boston for two years as part of the Threshold Program. Before moving to Santa Barbara in 1999, Carlee lived in Culver City at the Independent Center which was a program to develop independent living skills. She then lived independently for three years in Pacific Palisades and worked for Gelsons as a box girl. In Santa Barbara Carlee began living at The Sanctuary House and then in her own apartment with her beloved cat "Angel." She loved horses and riding, was an avid reader on many metaphysical subjects, was a journal keeper and an enthusiastic photographer. She loved children and babies and was very loving toward them. Carlee could remember every birthday of every person that she every knew. And she was very generous with her "Happy Birthday" wishes and calls.
Carlee is survived by her mother Christine McMahan McLaughlin of Santa Barbara and Pacific Palisades, her father Raymond Kay McLaughlin of Lexington, Kentucky and her brother Christopher Blake McLaughlin of Bordeaux, France. She will be missed by all who loved her. We will be celebrating Carlee's life on Thursday, October 28th, 3 pm at the Upper Bel Air Bay Club in Pacific Palisades. In lieu of flowers, any donations may be sent to Hearts Adaptive Riding Center in Santa Barbara, Heifer International, or Angels Attic in Santa Monica. Midgley Gardenside Mortuary (800) 795-0028