Leonora Dorothy O'Loughlin

On Sunday, June 22, 2025, Leonora Dorothy Budinger O’Loughlin passed away. She was 81 years old. On a tour of her home after her passing was the cake on the kitchen counter she had just baked for one grandson‘s birthday; on her bed were the presents she was wrapping for 2 more grandchildren’s birthdays. In a corner of her room was luggage she planned to give to two grandchildren who had recently graduated from high school, and in the refrigerator was the dinner she planned to cook for family for what she called an “on Sunday”, where all were invited. Up until the very end, she spent all her time the way she spent her entire life, focused on others, her family, and especially her children and grandchildren.

Lee was born on October 26, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois. She was the youngest of four children and the only daughter born to Robert and Dorothy Budinger. Her older brothers, Roger, Greg, and Paul, always looked out for her, and she, in turn, worshipped them. In fact, her brother Greg introduced her to her sweetheart Jim, who was one of his classmates at Northern Illinois University. She married Jim in 1967, shortly after her graduation from NIU with a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics.

After her graduation, she worked for the National Dairy Council and then taught home economics in high school. But what she really wanted to be most was a Mom. And to this work, she gave her heart and soul after giving birth to her first son, Bryan, in 1968. Bryan was soon followed by Patrick, Michael, John, Thomas, Joseph, Jimmy, and Daniel. Her children were born while living in Chicago, Illinois, then Kansas City, Missouri, followed by Los Angeles, California, and Houston, Texas. In 1985, Lee and her family moved to Moberly, Missouri, where Jim began work at Orscheln Industries, and this became home for the next forty years. She lived in the same home the entire time, filling it with love, care, bread, and cookies for family and all who stopped by.

Lee’s life was devoted first and foremost to her children (her husband Jim included in there), well, until grandchildren, especially granddaughters, started showing up. She always said, “Don’t just love your children, but fall in love with each child”, and this she did completely. This love also spread to others in the community, and she could often be seen giving rides to people in need, bringing meals to others, spending time in the community kitchen or teaching bread baking classes in the schools. As her family expanded with grandchildren and eventually great-grandchildren, she spent much of her time not only celebrating their birthdays but also attending their soccer games, tennis matches, band and choir concerts, graduations, and any other event or sport they might be doing. She was there rooting them on! When her beloved Jim passed away in 2020, she continued to give her time to her children, grandchildren, church, and community. She truly was a kind, selfless, loving individual whose thoughts and concerns were always for others. Even when she might not be feeling well, she would always rally if she thought someone needed her help.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jim, her Mother and Father, Dorothy and Robert, her brothers Paul and Roger, and her granddaughter Gracie.

She is survived by her 8 sons Bryan, Patrick, Michael, John, Thomas, Joseph, Jimmy and Daniel; her 8 daughter-in-laws Christin, Emily, Janet, Alison, Brittney, Maegan, Roberta and Christine; her grandchildren and grandchildren by marriage Patrick and Kelsie O’Loughlin, Robbie and Madison O’Loughlin, Madeline and DJ LaMartina; Sophie, Benjamin, Ryan, Andrew, Connor, Krista and Logan Casper, Jimmy and London O’Loughlin, Kaylee and Connor Rauckhorst, Breanna, Johnny, Morgan and Zach Thomas, Lauren and Brady Weaver, William, Harry, Eli, Josie, Will, Brooke, Raquel, Joseph Michael, Peter, Sarah, Emma, Lydia, Rachel, Emily, Kate, Abbie, Claire, Daniel, Audrey, Charlie, Jack, Savannah, and Juliet, plus three more grandchildren on the way; and her great grandchildren Gracelyn, Oliver, Hadley, Isla, and Eloise.

There has never been a more loving, kind and generous mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, daughter, sister and friend. Words cannot express how much we will miss her but we are comforted to know that she has been reunited with her beloved Jim and other loved ones.

Also, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the following 501(c)(3) charities - Community Kitchen in Moberly, and Our Little Ones that Jim O’Loughlin helped form. Our Little Ones focuses on building schools and supporting orphanages in underserved areas, with a current emphasis on Tanzania. You can donate to Our Little Onesvia PayPal using OurLittleOnes.org@gmail.com, or you can send a check to 1710 Gratz Brown, Suite B, Moberly, MO 65270.

A Funeral Service is scheduled for Thursday, July 3, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1049 CR 2310, Moberly, MO, at 12:00 Noon.. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 11:00 - 12:00 Noon.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Pathway-Millard Family Funeral Chapel, 411 Union Avenue, Moberly, MO 65270 (660)263-7284. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.pathwaymemorial.com.