Mary Janelle Vaughn

Mary Janelle “Pete” McDaniel Vaughn passed from this life on February 5, 2024. At her deathbed, she was attended by her daughters Deb and Pam and her grandson, Jesse, listening to a favorite song of hers, “Midnight Cry” as performed by Ivan Parker, her final word being "magnificent." She had at last, after seven years of dealing with the fall out of several strokes, found her peace.

Self-dubbed "Pete" in honor of her childhood hero, "Blind" Pete Cassel, a musician dubbed the "King of the Hillbillies,” Pete was born to a poor Irish family in Altoona, Alabama. She attended Altoona High School where she was admitted to the Beta Club, a class officer, and voted "Most Athletic" in her sophomore year. She began a relationship with Lee Vaughn, soon giving birth to her first child, Deb, followed by her daughter Pam and her son, Lee. She divorced her husband in 1980, though the two maintained an amicable relationship until his death in 2005.

Pete is best known for her time at Wal-Mart where she was an iconic fixture, bright, bold, and friendly. The mention of her name brought instant recognition and respect. Retiring from Wal-Mart at the age of 62, she spent her time painting, tinkering, collecting antiques, and making friends at the senior center. Pete was a paragon of friendliness and wit and a beacon of a bygone era. She was generous and willing to offer aid to anyone who needed it. She went a long way from being “the little Gypsy” to becoming a proud, independent, and selfless woman. Pete loved going on long walks under the trees, finding good deals, and watching reality television with her evening cornflakes. Always happy to spend time with anyone who wanted to stop and chat, she was a peerless fixture of the community. She was one of the last of the classic, iconic Southern women.

Pete is deeply missed and is survived by her sisters Rita Broyles and Suzi Bowen; her children Deb (Willard) Groover, Pam (Tommy) Farley, and Lee Vaughn; her grandchildren Shane (Kelly) Farley, Jennifer (Heath) Belyeu, Will (Jennifer) Farley, Chris (Casey) Vaughn, and Jesse Groover; her great-grandchildren Thomas Farley, Jonas Belyeu, Fisher Belyeu, and Cade Farley; and her many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family extends special thanks to Christy Jarmon and to Pete’s team at Hope Hospice: Megan, Holly, Misty, Sharon, Charity, and Chaplain Matt.