Oren Connor Mclurkin

Oren Connor McLurkin was born in Los Angeles, California, on March 3, 1961 to Thomas McLurkin and Willie Mae O’Connor. He was the fourth of five children in a Christian household who were taught to put God first, and family a close second. Oren’s parents were educators who instilled a strong commitment to public service in him at an early age, and the importance of giving back to those less fortunate.

As a youngster, Oren was adventurous and he capitalized on every opportunity to play with the neighborhood boys, sometimes without permission. With his warm, sociable, and out-going personality, friends were easy to come by. Over time, he established meaningful relationships that developed into lifelong friendships with families like the Masudas, Menzies, Mullins, LeDuffs, and many more. Oren’s interest in his peers was genuine and his memory was a reservoir of stories that he could recount, at the most opportune and inopportune time, always with boisterous laughter over half a century later.

Oren attended Crescent Heights Elementary School, Louis Pasteur Junior High School (today’s LACES), and Alexander Hamilton High School where he graduated in 1979. At Hamilton, Oren participated in a variety of school activities and played on the basketball team. After high school, he attended California State University, Northridge, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 1985.

Oren’s career in public service began when he joined the Los Angeles County Probation Department as a Detention Service Officer. He later transferred to the Los Angeles County Department of Children Services as a Group Supervisor at MacLaren Hall in El Monte, CA. It was no surprise that Oren ultimately followed in his parents’ footsteps to pursue his calling in the field of education. With his sociology degree and a background with County Probation and Children Services, Oren was in high demand because he was particularly effective at working with and supporting at-risk youth. He implemented drug rehabilitation programs, developed and carried out behavioral management strategies, and taught students recently released from juvenile hall and probation camps. Oren was recognized for his accomplishments with Teacher of the Year and Meritorious Service awards from the LA County Office of Education and the Hawthorne Unified School District.

Oren pursued higher education and obtained a Master of Science degree in Instructional Leadership from National University and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration from California State University, Los Angeles. With these credentials, Oren stepped into roles as a vice principal and principal, but eventually he returned to the classroom where he experienced the most fulfillment teaching young people.

In January 1989, Oren crossed paths with his heaven-sent soulmate, Jane Giselle “Gigi” Miller, during a road trip to Rosarito Beach with a group of friends in the brownie van. After a whirlwind, two-month romance that included his birthday party, movies, a date at the Comedy Store, and countless all-night phone conversations, Oren professed his love with the first Easter lilies bouquet of their thirty-five years together. On August 11, 1990, Oren married Jane and their family grew to include two daughters, Rachel Lauren in 1993 and Selena Marie in 2000.

Oren loved all of the new experiences that fatherhood brought to his life. He fully immersed himself in dance and piano recitals, Christmas programs, the NDA car line and carnivals, sports, field trips, and reconciliations and First Communions. He did not need an invitation to regale anyone in his orbit with updates about Rachel and Selena’s accomplishments from infancy through adulthood. Over the years, the family travelled the world, from Jamaica to Senegal, the Cayman Islands to the Carolinas, and they made multiple trips annually to their favorite nearby vacation destination, Palm Desert.

The ultimate girl dad, Oren spent many of his weekends at Rachel and Selena's sports events. He was always the loudest person in the stands, yelling, "BOOM!," "YAGA!," "Too much too little too late!," and of course "THREE!" He sometimes did the "airplane" on the court after a win which gained him a plethora of friends, and probably some enemies. Oren accompanied his daughters to Reno, Las Vegas, North Carolina, Arizona, and Sacramento where Selena's team won an Open Division State Basketball Championship. He presented his daughters to society as debutantes at Los Angeles Chapter of the Links, Inc. Cotillions. It brought Oren immense pride that his daughters carried on his legacy by attaining graduate degrees in education and public policy. 

Oren was a lifelong follower of his favorite sports teams. He loved his city and was a die-hard fan of the LA (and St. Louis) Rams, Dodgers, Clippers, Lakers, and USC Trojans and posted frequently on Facebook to celebrate or tease those on the opposing side. He also enjoyed rooting for the Northridge Matadors, Venice Gondos, NDA Knights and Regals, Notre Dame Knights, Culver City Centaurs, Windward Wildcats, Got Game (Ganked), GBL, and wherever Coach Marvin was at any given time. 

Oren was the life of the party and he orchestrated the creation of countless wonderful memories for and with his beloved family members and cherished friends. Anyone who experienced the whirlwind of generosity, compassion, and humor that Oren shared so freely, may have met him as a stranger, but they left him as a friend. Intentionally or not, Oren mastered the art of leaving everyone wanting more of him. 

Oren passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife, children, and siblings on January 17, 2025, having lived a full life that was blessed by God. Oren was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Willie Mae McLurkin and in-laws Halvor and Arlene Miller. He leaves behind to mourn his wife Jane (Gigi), daughers Rachel and Selena; siblings Thomas Jr. (Charmaine), Kandice (Abdalla), Patrice (Michael), and Charles (Monique), brother-in-law John Miller, uncles Robert (Myrtle) and Aubrey (Melba); aunt Velva, nieces Erin, Brittny, Blair, Madison, Gabrielle, Cailey, and Victoria; nephews Reuben, Thomas, Piece, Evan, Connor, Jayme, Christopher, and Cameron; and a host of cousins, extended family, and beloved friends.