John B. Vaughan Jr.
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Services will be 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013 at Merkel First Baptist Church with Pastor T.C. Melton officiating. Burial will follow at Slater’s Chapel in Nolan County, under the direction of the Starbuck Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 o’clock tonight (Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013) at the funeral home.
John, better known as “J.B.,” was born on Feb. 7, 1937 in Sweetwater, TX to John Benjamin and Lola Marie Simmons Vaughan, who both preceded him in death. He lived in Sweetwater until he was seven, then moved to Abilene and then to Pineville, LA. The family then moved to Missouri and lived at Brookfield and Chillicothe. He finally ended up at Trenton in 1948 and was a member of the Trenton High School class of 1955.
J.B. enlisted in the USAF March 9, 1955 and served his country for over five years as an Air Control and Warning Operator.
He married Betty Joanne Garrett in October 1965 and she and a daughter, Defawn Rene, preceded him in death. He married Lucy Jane Snell Young at Beaumont Baptist Church in Kansas City on July 7, 1968. After their marriage, her gentle influence led him to his Lord and Savior three years to the day after losing his wife, Joanne. His salvation changed his life and he was actively sharing his faith up until his death.
He obtained his private pilot’s license in 1967, including multiple ratings, and owned and flew several aircraft during his lifetime. He enjoyed flying and traveling with his family. He retired from Garrett Aviation after having worked 22 years as an aircraft mechanic and electrician. Upon retirement, he and Lucy traveled extensively in their RV throughout the US and Canada and in his travels he only missed the state of Michigan. He and Lucy traveled to Australia in 2002 and J.B. felt he had seen paradise on earth down under.
He was an active member of First Baptist Church in Merkel, the 601st/615th ACNW Air Force Radar Unit reunion group, a former member of Abilene Sundowners Good Sam Club for 10 years and was a founding member of the “Keepers” Car Club of Clyde, TX.
Survivors include his loving companion, Ms. Nancy McAnally; children, Linda Sue Fletcher and her husband, Bradley of Rowlett, Carol Dawn Brady and her husband, Blake of Huntsville, Anne Jendrzey and her husband, Randal of Corpus Christi, Lucy Marie Devillier and her husband, Robert of Conroe and John McCaslin Vaughan and his wife, Keri of Abilene; sisters, Patricia Ann Latham of Trenton and Doris Rhea Payton and her husband, Charles of Bakersfield, CA; brothers, John Denim Vaughan of Granite Bay, CA and Frank Vaughan and his wife, Susan of Bakersfield; and five grandchildren, Joseph Tristan Yoders, Elizabeth Anne Jendrzey, Rachel Rene Jendrzey, Kara Danielle Vaughan and Alexandra McCaslin Vaughan.
Memorials are suggested in memory of his wife, Lucy Jane Vaughan to the Foundation for Women’s Cancer, 230 W. Monroe, Suite 2528, Chicago, IL 60606 or www.foundationforwomenscancer.org to assist in finding a cure for the disease that took her life and continues to affect so many.
Persons can view and sign the online guestbook at www.starbuckfuneralhome.com