Cecelia was born on March 15, 1936, to Hagin and Pauline (Allen) Collins in Wilburton, Oklahoma.
After graduating from nursing school, she moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma where she met and married her husband, John Joseph “Joe” McLafferty.
Throughout her career, she provided compassionate nursing care in Oklahoma, Illinois, and Indiana.
After retirement, Cecelia and Joe moved to Puyallup, Washington to be near their son, Michael.
Cecelia died on February 18, 2026, in Puyallup, Washington.
She is survived by her son, Michael; four sisters, one brother, and numerous nieces and nephews