Gordon "Jim" Vaughan

Gordon "Jim" Vaughan was born to Warner and Mattie Vaughan in Detroit, Michigan, January 5, 1926 and died in Fresno, California, February 26, 2014. He was 88 years old. Jim was the middle child, with older brother Harold, sister Mary, and younger sister Suzy and brother Thomas.

Jim grew up in Detroit and loved playing basketball, baseball, hockey and sail skating on the frozen Detroit River. At the age of 17, he joined the Navy to fight for his country in World War II. While he was stationed at Treasure Island in San Francisco, he met his future wife, Gwendolyn "Penny" Vaughan one evening when he picked up her sister's hat that had blown off while they were strolling down Market Street. A short time later, Jim was shipped out to New York but he kept in touch with Gwen by mail. They reunited in 1945 when Jim was on a 30-day leave, and were promptly engaged after he spent time with Gwen's family in Tranquillity. Just a few months later, before Jim was deployed to the Pacific, they were married.

After the war, Jim and Gwen lived in Michigan for a short time before joining her family's farming business in Tranquillity. They settled down and started a family, which would include four sons, Jimmy, Tim, Mark and Michael. Jim was a farmer, owner and partner of B.T.V. farms for 44 years. He served as a member of the Tranquillity Elementary School Board and the Tranquillity Community Foundation. He was also involved in the farming community as a multi-term Director of the Tranquillity Irrigation District Board, director of the Griswold Creek Joint Powers Agency and president of the Tranquillity Growers Association. Jim was very active as a freemason. He started as a member of the Joppa Lodge #580 in San Joaquin in 1956 and served in many leadership positions in the Scottish Rite Bodies, attaining the honor of a 33rd degree mason. He was also a worthy patron of the La Sierra Venus Chapter 555, Order of Eastern Star. Jim was a former lay leader and past president of the board of trustees of the Tranquillity United Methodist Church.

Later in life, Jim and Gwen moved to Fresno. They loved going to Fresno State basketball and baseball games and were season ticket holders. They were also avid Dodger fans. Jim and Gwen held many family gatherings over the years and were known affectionately to their large extended family as Nan and Papa. Everyone always looked forward to Papa's biscuits, apple pies and sugar cookies. Jim and Gwen enjoyed 67 years of loving marriage and they cherished every one of their children, grandchildren, great-grand-children and great-great-grandchildren.

Jim was an intelligent, caring and honorable husband, father and active member of society. His presence will be dearly missed.

Jim is survived by his sons James, Timothy, Mark, Michael, brother Thomas and numerous extended family.

Visitation will be held at Lisle Funeral Home on Friday, March 14, 2014 from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.

A Funeral Service will be held at Lisle Funeral Home on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 11:00 am with burial to follow at Fresno Memorial Gardens.