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MR. DANNIE LEE “COACH MAC” McLAUGHLIN, JR., age 85, of Eastman, GA, died Sunday, April 9, 2023, at Dodge County Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 14, 2023 in the Chapel of Hardy-Towns Funeral Home with Rev. Arnold Rye officiating. Interment will follow in Oakland Cemetery in Helena, Ga. The family will receive friends at the funeral one hour prior to the service. Dannie was born in McRae and a 1956 graduate of McRae-Helena High School. He later attended Georgia Southwestern University before graduating from Georgia Southern with a degree in Education. After graduating, he taught for several years in Lyons, GA before later moving to Macon with his wife, where he taught for a few years. He and his family later moved back to McRae, where he taught and coached basketball and football at Eastman Middle from the mid to late 1970s until his retirement in 1993. After his retirement, he continued teaching at the Unadilla Prison for a few years before teaching at the Eastman RYDC. He later taught for the Middle Georgia Wilderness Institute in Cochran for over 20 years before returning to the Eastman RYDC. He finally retired for good from the Cadwell RYDC in February 2022. He also worked as a store clerk for Shorty’s Quick Stop for many years. Dannie loved teaching and coaching. Every one of his student’s he felt like were one of his own. He was proud of all their accomplishments, and he was affectionately known as “Coach Mac” to all his students and players. He loved working and staying busy. He loved his sports, and in his early years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. Dannie was the son of the late Mary House McLaughlin and Dannie L. McLaughlin, Sr. and was preceded in death by his Wife, Gwen Grimes McLaughlin, Son, Dannie Lee McLaughlin, Grandson, Herman Lawrence Moore, Jr., and Sons-in-law, Herman Lawrence Moore, Sr. and Charles Glisson. He is survived by his Wife – Annette Pruett McLaughlin of Eastman; 2 Daughters – Mary Glisson (Terron Stonecypher) of Eastman and Janet Moore of Dexter; 3 Step-Sons – Kelly Hanson, Kent Hanson (Robin), both of New Mexico, and Joel Hanson (Dena) of Eastman; 5 Grandchildren – Brooke McLaughlin, Skylar Dannylee McLaughlin-Moore, Tristen Moore, Klyda “Annie” Moore, and Joah Moore; 4 Step-Grandchildren – Tyler Hanson, Amber Cruz, Tiffanie Parker, and Dustin Hanson; 3 Great-Grandchildren – Maddie McLaughlin, Lawrence Moore, and Addi McLaughlin; Several Step-Great-Grandchildren; Sister – Lucy Jacobs of Ailey; 2 Sisters-in-law – Syble Pruett of Chester and Mary Lynn Gray of Eastman; Several Nieces and Nephews. The family may be contacted at the residence of Mary Glisson, 23 Hickory Lane, Eastman. Hardy-Towns Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.hardy-towns.com.

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Dannie "Coach Mac" McLaughlin

February 3, 1938 - April 9, 2023