John "Ladder" McLaughlin

John H. "Ladder" McLaughlin, 86, of Salisbury, NC passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. John was born December 25, 1938, in Aurora, IL to the late Gerald Robert McLaughlin and Ivernia Gration McLaughlin. He went to West Aurora High School and played center on the basketball team where he was given the nickname "Ladder" due to his 6'6" stature. He was part of the 1955 Champion Basketball Team. John married Nancy Nicholson soon after graduating from WAHS in 1956 and they had four children. John began working for Lyon Metal Products in Aurora and worked his way from a shop welder to National Sales Manager. His outgoing personality and great sense of humor made him an exceptional salesman. He was promoted several times and moved to Pittsburgh, PA, Atlanta, GA, and Charlotte, NC to manage material handling sales territories. His fond memories of Aurora brought him back to Lyon Metal's home base in 1978 where he reconnected with family and colleagues. In 1984, he chose to start his own company and moved back to Charlotte, NC. Armed with his savvy business and people skills, his business soon became a success and his son John joined the team. Lockers Unlimited, Inc. is still going strong today thanks to the solid business principles he instilled over thirty years ago. John married his second wife, Myrnie Posluzny in 1995 and moved to Salisbury, NC. He enjoyed traveling, playing bridge, playing golf and teasing his grandchildren.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Myrnie; four children that he loved dearly: Dawn (Marshall) Williams of Charlotte, NC, Kelley (James) Magill of Taylors, SC, John (Reba) of Charlotte, NC, and Mike (Tiffany) of Davidson, NC, two stepchildren A.J. (Jo) Posluzny of Maryland, and Robert (Miriam) Posluzny of Indiana. He leaves behind eleven grandchildren, Brad, CJ, Ashley, Christine, Kelsey, Stephanie, Devin, Grace, Ray, Nick, and Aubrey and twelve great grandchildren as well as his brother Dick (Elli) of Dekalb, Illinois and brother-in-laws Bill (Jan) Nicholson of Wisconsin and Josh Stroup (Linda) of Littiz, PA

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at Summersett Funeral Home in Salisbury, NC from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM. A memorial service will follow at 1:00 PM in Summersett Memorial Chapel with Rev. Randy Kirby officiating. A Private Family interment will be held at First Presbyterian Church Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John's memory to the Blackhawk Sports Boosters at Blackhawk Boosters (Donations)

West Aurora SD 129



Summersett Funeral Home is serving the McLaughlin family. Online condolences may be made to www.summersettfuneralhome.com