Time is a great storyteller and absence makes the heart grow fonder. She left with her love and partner Phil when he was transferred to Iowa working on the Santa Fe Railroad in 1992.   

They lived on four and one half acres of beautiful rural countryside and raised their children—two girls—Kara, with two sons Mason and Carson in Chicago, and Kelsey in Denver. After 38 happy years of wedlock Phil passed away and it wounded her deeply. Gradually over time her memories and ties of home pulled on her heart like a strong wind in a sail and with what Barb describes as similar to a divine intervention, she bought a house in Chillicothe and sold her 25 year Iowa property all in a span of 2 days. In June of 2017 she came home, home where she was born to Les and Jean McLaughlin on August 3, 1954 in Peoria. Home to where a little tomboy, named Barbie, had to hold her own in a family full of brothers, Ron, Don, and later Rich. Home to where she broke her arm at age two rough housing with them.  Home to where she went to North School then Pearce Grade to play clarinet in the band and sing in the chorus. She learned to twirl the baton later from Janet Blew. At IVC, she was a majorette the last three years of school.  Then she ran on the 440 Relay Team for the Peoria Track Club.      

In the summers following graduation, she played on two very good women’s softball teams—Blarney Castle and Joan’s Trophy—lasting some 17 years at Shore Acres Park. She was a waitress at age 16 at Michaels Restaurant. She started at Krogers part time in 1974 and retired from there after 20 years. She was a dental assistant in Iowa for 18 years. Since her return, Barb has immersed herself in many activities to help our citizens. She’s a member of The Zoning Board of Appeals, The Shade Makers committee, the Fire Works committee, calls bingo at Evergreen Assisted Living, does the bike challenge for Ronald McDonald House, and helps at Pearce with Senior Meals. All of those and more made her the winner of The Civic Volunteer of the Year Award for 2021. 

Barb says what she likes the most about Chillicothe is the people and the best mentors in her life were her mother Jean, who passed at 47 but made the best darn candy in town, and a very close friend Earline Lipsey. Life takes you to unexpected places, love brings you home. Barbara McLaughlin O’Connor has shown that won’t be denied, a strong willed, feisty Irish American, and former tomboy can also be a Hometown Hero. 

She came from humble beginnings and says she has been blessed with a good family life, with lots of friends, travel, and much more to come and who knows maybe she’ll come across another viaduct that needs Class of 72 painted on it like in North Hampton. With her steady support to our community through various program outlets and in the spirit of giving back to her hometown, she adds strength to the fabric of Chillicothe. No human casts a taller shadow in their town than the volunteer. There have been and always will be Hometown Heroes in Chillicothe of different walks, occupations, and stature and now Barbara McLaughlin O’Connor joins those ranks. 

Thank you Barb and welcome home.