Vaun was born on August 25, 1929 in Chatfield, Texas to parents Gordon and Mabel Huddleston. She grew up in Rice, Texas and later moved to Eustace, Texas where she went to school. Vaun had three siblings; Genelle Tramel, Louis Ray Huddleston and Nana Beth Huddleston. She would grow up to marry the love of her life, Racine Martin Tankersley. They were married on February 3, 1946 in Rockwall, Texas. Vaun and Racine celebrated 62 years of marriage, until his passing in 2007 at the age of 83. They lived in several towns throughout their 62 years of marriage; Eustace, TX, Seattle, WA, Dallas, TX, Seagoville, TX, Kleberg, TX, Grand Prairie, TX, Gun Barrel City, TX, Long Island, NY, Burleson, TX and many more while Racine was job shopping in different states.
Vaun worked at home until the early 60’s, when she got a job at Texas Instruments in Dallas, TX as a Lab Technician. She worked there approximately 5 years and then was later hired at LTV in Grand Prairie, with her husband Racine. They commuted from the lake house in Gun Barrel City to Grand Prairie for many years together. At LTV she had to have a security clearance and worked in a secure area on circuit boards. Vaun wore a white lab coat every day and worked under a microscope on circuit boards for airplanes. She retired at the age of 45, in approximately 1980. After retirement she worked with a contractor on building their lake home in Gun Barrel City in Thunderbird Shores. Vaun could build anything, she designed and placed every stone in their huge fireplace. She cut and placed distressed wood (shiplap) on the wall in their bedroom, before it was even popular. Vaun also held quilting classes at Henderson County Junior College in Athens, TX and later at her home in Gun Barrel City. She was and excellent seamstress and made lots of her children’s clothing throughout their youth. Vaun loved a good yard sale and some might say she was a collector. She remembered where she got each treasure and what she paid for it. Vaun and Racine set up a booth at Canton’s First Monday for many years, which they just loved and treasured those memories. She sold many of her quilts there and lots of other items. Vaun loved to travel and has been all over the world; Japan, Italy, Hawaii, Ireland, England, Germany, Alaska and all over the United States. Later, when Vaun and Racine moved to Burleson, TX they joined the Crowley Church of Christ. She loved her church family dearly. Vaun met many more friends when she would go to the Alvarado RV once a month and sing karaoke gospel music. She would walk up to that stage and sing like she owned it. Her vibrato soprano voice was loved by everyone. Vaun sang with others at nearby nursing homes and other events. She would visit the Burleson Senior Citizen’s Center and was loved by everyone she met. Her funny, cheerful personality lit up a room when she walked in. Vaun was an amazing lady who will be missed tremendously by those who knew and loved her.
Vaun was preceded in death by her parents, husband Martin Racine Tankersley, sister Nana Beth Huddleston and brother Louis Ray Huddleston.
She is survived by her loving children; Ronnie Racine Tankersley and wife Linda of Eustace, TX, Fama Sue Harris and husband Rodney of Sunset, TX, Lajuana Lynn Bilger and husband Ken of Alvarado, TX, Marty Keith Tankersley of Galveston, TX, Kerry Gordon Tankersley and wife Deborah of Ben Wheeler, TX and Kim Luther Tankersley of Rockwall, TX, grandchildren: Curtis Racine Tankersley, Jan Sharon Teel, Robert (Rob) Earl Moore, III, Tracy Rene Morton, Brian Stanley Tankersley, Jodi Kay Cox, Jarrod Keith Tankersley, Anthony (Tony) Racine Moore, Selena Kay Tankersley, Jason Lee Tankersley, Jason Wayne Tankersley, Chad Eric Bilger, Jamie Ann Tankersley, Lindsey Minta Byrd, Amanda Kay Tankersley, Jena Marie Dentone, Sarah Elisabeth Cole and Travis Martin Tankersley, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, sister Genelle Tramel of Mesquite, TX, numerous nieces and nephews, other loving family members and many more lifelong friends.
