McLaughlin Mortuary in Fort Walton Beach, FL provides funeral home, burial, veteran, memorialization, cremation and life celebration services. Call us 24/7.
When we sit down with a family, our shared goal is to create a fitting, memorable and affordable service for their loved one. We offer them a wide variety of services and products, as well as a wealth of creative ideas and suggestions. Together, we'll design a memorial or funeral service that suits their needs now, and in the future. Families who come to us know that years from now, they will have deep peace-of-mind because in coming to us, they've done their best to honor their loved one.
It was a very calming experience dealing with Dwight, the director and Caitin plus the others I spoke with on the phone.
In this kind of situation where there’s a devastating loss and no knowledge of how you will be able to deal with the decisions you’re about to face.
It was very comforting to face this sad reality and having someone like Dwight heading this up and explaining to me all the things that will be happening in the next couple of weeks. And what role they would play in it all.
Everything he explained was how things all came together, my burden was lightened & a peace was gifted to me through the knowledge and care from this team of talented individuals in this difficult field.
PS
Patrice Smith
Feb 5, 2025
5.0
I had an amazing experience in trying to assist a local (elderly) community member with arrangements for her son in another state. Pam went above and beyond to assist and even followed up a few days later. Thank you sincerely for you wonderful customer service and representation of Mclaughlin Mortuary. I also would like to recognize the owner or manager that I spoke with who was extremely helpful and pleasant as well. Thank you both so very much!
GC
Glenda Cotham
Aug 10, 2024
5.0
Their attention to detail was extremely helpful. My family was impressed with their compassion and service to us like we were the only ones they needed to work with.
LP
Liz Pineiro
Oct 18, 2021
5.0
Our family was so blessed by the care we received from DJ and Phillip!
We had visited with DJ a while back to ensure my mom's prepaid plan was in order and she was so patient and thorough. She has shown nothing but kindness in every conversation since then.
When the time came, Phillip was a blessing from the Lord walking us through every detail with patience, respect, and personal care. He reminded us that he was never more than a phonecall away and he was true to his word. He always responded quickly, communicated clearly, answering every question and honoring every request with authentic care. We felt we were the only ones he needed to be there for. The kindness of the Lord came through Phillip loud and clear. We pray his faith will be strengthened as he continues to help so many others in their time of loss.
Frequently Asked Questions About McLaughlin Mortuary
What does a Funeral Director do?
Pick up the deceased and transport the body to the funeral home (anytime day or night)
Notify proper authorities, family and/or relatives
Arrange and prepare death certificates
Provide certified copies of death certificates for insurance and benefit processing
Work with the insurance agent, Social Security or Veterans Administration to ensure that necessary paperwork is filed for receipt of benefits
Prepare and submit obituary to the newspapers of your choice
Bathe and embalm the deceased body, if necessary
Prepare the body for viewing including dressing and cosmetizing
Assist the family with funeral arrangements and purchase of casket, urn, burial vault and cemetery plot
Schedule the opening and closing of the grave with cemetery personnel, if a burial is to be performed
Coordinate with clergy if a funeral or memorial service is to be held
Arrange a police escort and transportation to the funeral and/or cemetery for the family
Order funeral sprays and other flower arrangements as the family wishes
Provide Aftercare, or grief assistance, to the bereaved
What do I do when a death occurs?
The funeral home will help coordinate arrangements with the cemetery.
Bring the following information to complete the State vital statistic requirements:
✓ Birthplace
✓ Father's Name
✓ Mother's Name
✓ Social Security Number
✓ Veteran's Discharge or Claim Number
✓ Education
✓ Marital Status
Contact your clergy. Decide on time and place of funeral or memorial service. This can be done at the funeral home.
The funeral home will assist you in determining the number of copies of the death certificates you will be needing and can order them for you.
Make a list of immediate family, close friends and employer or business colleagues. Notify each by phone.
Decide on appropriate memorial to which gifts may be made (church, hospice, library, charity or school).
Gather obituary information you want to include such as age, place of birth, cause of death, occupation, college degrees, memberships held, military service , outstanding work, list of survivors in immediate family. Include time and place of services. The funeral home will normally write article and submit to newspapers (newspaper will accept picture and they will be returned intact).
Arrange for members of family or close friends to take turns answering door or phone, keeping careful record of calls. If Social Security checks are automatic deposit, notify the bank of the death.
When I call, will someone come right away?
If you request immediate assistance, yes. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say good-bye, that’s perfectly acceptable. Your funeral director will come when your time is right.
Should I choose Burial or Cremation?
Burial in a casket is the most common method of disposing of remains in the United States, although entombment also occurs. Cremation is increasingly selected because it can be less expensive and allows for the memorial service to be held at a more convenient time in the future when relatives and friends can come together.
A funeral service followed by cremation need not be any different from a funeral service followed by a burial. Usually, cremated remains are placed in urn before being committed to a final resting place. The urn may be buried, placed in an indoor or outdoor mausoleum or columbarium, or interred in a special urn garden that many cemeteries provide for cremated remains. The remains may also be scattered, according to state law.
What is the purpose of embalming?
Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body. Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.
Does a dead body have to be embalmed, according to law?
The Federal Trade Commission says, "Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing. If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require you to pay for it, such as direct cremation or immediate burial."
What services does McLaughlin Mortuary provide?
McLaughlin Mortuary offers funeral home, burial, veteran memorialization, cremation, and life celebration services, aiming to create fitting, memorable, and affordable services.
Is McLaughlin Mortuary open 24 hours?
Yes, McLaughlin Mortuary is open 24 hours every day, including Federal Holidays.
What payment options are accepted at McLaughlin Mortuary?
They accept American Express, Cash, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa as payment options.
How can I contact McLaughlin Mortuary for assistance?
You can contact them 24/7 at +1 850-244-5163 or via email at wecare@mclaughlintwincities.com.
What is the role of a Funeral Director at McLaughlin Mortuary?
A Funeral Director handles the transportation and preparation of the deceased, arranges death certificates, coordinates with authorities and families, schedules services, assists with purchases, and provides grief assistance.
Does McLaughlin Mortuary provide embalming services?
Yes, packaging the deceased for viewing, including embalming to preserve and sanitize the body, is part of their services, allowing families time to arrange memorials.
What should I do when a death occurs?
Contact McLaughlin Mortuary for assistance with funeral arrangements and death certificates, notify family and friends, and decide on funeral or memorial service details with clergy support.
What are the burial and cremation options at McLaughlin Mortuary?
You may choose burial, including casket and cemetery arrangements, or cremation, which can be less expensive and allows memorial services at a later time; urn placement options vary.
Which nearby places might be useful for visitors to McLaughlin Mortuary?
Visitors might find Beach Community Bank helpful for financial needs, Captain's Quarters for nearby accommodation, and Upper Room Church of Living for religious services.
Are there recreational or supportive facilities near McLaughlin Mortuary?
Yes, nearby facilities include Fort Walton Barbell Club for fitness, Shelter House Inc for social and mental health services, and Shearsandabrush beauty salon for personal care.
How can nearby businesses help families planning services at McLaughlin Mortuary?
Local vendors like Marshal Lee Painting LLC can assist with home improvements during difficult times, while Barefoot Weddings® offers event planning services that may be useful for celebration of life events.
Brand Certified Facts from McLaughlin Mortuary
This information is certified by McLaughlin Mortuary and published from the brand's official system of record. Data is distributed through an enterprise-grade knowledge management platform. Learn more about our data sources
Certified May 17, 2026Yext Knowledge Graph
Address
Categories
Geo coordinates
Legal business name
Hours of operation
Phone number
Official website
Syndication Network
Approved business data is pushed to 100+ publishers, including: