Faith Rose McLaughlin

Faith Rose Ide McLaughlin of Little Rock, Arkansas, age 84, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 30, 2025, due to heart complications. Born on October 18, 1940, in Auburn, New York to Joseph and Roma Ide, she was the eldest of two daughters.

Faith was full of life and energy from the earliest of days. Always one for mischief and laughter; if she wasn’t in trouble for hiding from her father at bedtime she could be found climbing trees.

Faith graduated from Mount Carmel High School with honors, having also been voted “Miss Lovely.” With her signature dimples and infectious personality, she was always surrounded by high school friends that she stayed in touch with throughout her life. She continued her education after moving to Little Rock in 1970. Receiving her undergraduate, masters, and Education Specialist degrees from the University of Arkansas all while teaching school and raising 4 children.

She spent 36 years in Little Rock School District as both a teacher and a principal. She loved her students and spent countless hours devoted to their education and advocating for them to have the very best her school could offer. It was a calling she was devoted to and she encouraged every young person she met to work hard in school, get a good education, and never stop learning. She was always referred to as the “favorite teacher” by former students and was remembered for her Friday “popcorn” day and book-a-thons. Faith was selected as 1 of 65 teachers nationwide to participate in the National Geographic Society Geography Institute in Washington D.C. in 1990 with commendations from the then Governor Bill Clinton and Arkansas Congressman.

After her retirement, she continued to be active as a substitute teacher at Christ the King Catholic School, board member for the Arkansas School for the Blind and Deaf and volunteer at St. Vincent’s and Christ the King Church. When she wasn’t working, she was traveling and loved exploring new places. Hot-air ballooning in Paris was a favorite memory along with her trip to Israel and the Holy City. However, her favorite place in the world was spending time with her husband Gary McLaughlin on Lake Ouachita and with her very large, blended family.

Faith was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Roma Ide and her sister Susan Johnson. She is survived by her 4 children, Michael Timothy Donovan, Maureen Sokora (Richard), Peter John Donovan (Stacy), Patrick Joseph Donovan (Alicia); 6 grandchildren, Michael Lawrence Donovan (Jordan), Joseph Riley Sokora (Shelby), Meredith Sokora-Gamber (Phillip), Connor Peter Donovan, Stephanie Maureen Donovan, and Liam Alexander Donovan; 2 great-grandchildren Reese Alexandria Donovan, and Henry Riley Sokora; along with several bonus children and grandchildren whom she loved dearly.

A Rosary service will be held at 9:30 AM on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Christ the King Catholic Church. A Memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM with Inurnment and Reception to follow on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 4000 N Rodney Parham Rd, Little Rock, AR 72212. 

Services entrusted to Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct, Little Rock, AR, 72205