Arden James Vaughan

Arden James Vaughan passed away August 23,2018 surrounded by his family. He was born June 21,1935 in Akron, Ohio. He was the son of the late Levi William Vaughan and the late Hazel Hackathorn Vaughan. He moved to Memphis, Tennessee at a young age and was educated at Christian Brothers High School, John Carroll University in Cleveland, OH, Southwestern University of Memphis, and Memphis University where he majored in Liberal Arts, English and American Literature. In 1957 he married Blenda Green Martin. Arden was a chapter member of the Memphis Aquarium Society and a lifelong collector and lover of tropical fish. He also was a lifelong amateur poet writing many poems dedicated friends and family on birthdays, marriages, and deaths. He was an avid Seminole fan belonging to the Jacksonville Booster Club for years, and served as a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. His home parish for 50 years was Assumption Catholic Church. Among working at Firestone Tires in his early days for his father’s company, he worked at a funeral home, served in the US Army and Air Force reserve from 1957-1964, Delta Airlines, and the Federal Government. He started with Delta in 1962 never stepping foot on a plane until his interview in Atlanta with Delta, where he was hired for Memphis Reservations. In 1968, he took a company transfer and brought his wife and 4 children to the Sunshine State where he resided until his death. He worked for Delta for 25 years and he took an early retirement in 1987, saying “25 years was long enough to work for one company”. It was working for Delta that gave him his wanderlust and he enjoyed many benefits of travel throughout his life, especially finding family ties in Goresbridge, Kilkenny, Ireland of his grandmother, Katherine Kelly. He also created a family of friends of a lifetime at Delta as there was no other family in Florida. After Delta, he had various jobs but then ended up with the Internal Revenue Service working seasonally for almost 15 years finally retiring for good in 2006. Arden felt his greatest achievement however, was his family.

He is preceded in death by his wife Blenda of 59 years and his brother Patrick and daughter, Leslie. Also he leaves his children, Mark Vaughan(Lori) of Bradenton, FL, Tammy Martin(Chris) of Jacksonville, Mary

Pooler(Randall) of Jacksonville, and Luke(Mairead) of Seminole, FL. He leaves behind as well 17 grandchildren, Taylor V. Whittle(Will), Makenzie Vaughan, Clancy Vaughan, Amanda Hartley, Angela H. Biance(Justin), Kelly H. Gelwicks(Bill), Fr. Michael Hartley, Rachel Hartley, Jessica P. Garrett(Clay), Mary Alex Pooler, Christopher Pooler, Colton Arden Pooler, Quinton Pooler, Kaitlyn Vaughan, Jenna Vaughan, Peter Vaughan and Elle Vaughan. He also leaves behind 12 great grandchildren. Celia Whittle, Ava Biance, Monroe Biance, Ellanor Biance, Adelaide Biance, Fulton Biance, Mabel Biance, Hazel Biance, Rowan Gelwicks, Ever Gelwicks, Bruce Garrett and Rudy Garrett.

He wanted to add that his quotation in life was one of Will Rogers who said, “I never knew a man I did not like.”

There will be an “Irish Wake” at Colonial Point Condominium Clubhouse, 5201 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207 starting at 6:30pm on Friday, August, 31, 2018. Funeral arrangements for Arden’s memorial will be a mass at 11:00 am on September 1, 2018 at Assumption Catholic Church in Jacksonville, Florida.

"In lieu of flowers, do something nice with your family."