Joseph Vaughn

Joseph Thomas Vaughn Joseph Thomas Vaughn, 70, of Houston, Texas died peacefully on January 16, 2014. A funeral mass will be held 10am Monday, January 20, 2014 at St. Thomas High School located at 4500 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas. Joe will be laid to rest next to his father, William Thomas Vaughn in a private family burial. Joe was born in Beaumont, Texas on June 21, 1943 and moved with his family to Houston within the year. He attended St. Thomas High School in Houston, Texas and the University of Houston. Joe married Cheryl Neef Vaughn on August 13, 1966. They were married for 47 years.

Joe was a true builder who was in the construction industry from the age of 12. Working his way up in the industry, he founded Vaughn Construction. Prior to that, he held many positions in the industry including laborer, ironworker, carpenter, engineer, superintendent and operations manager. He served as the Director and President of the St. Thomas High School Foundation, President of the Houston Associated General Contractors, and a Board Member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Joe was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and fisherman. Peerless in his industry, Joe was well-known and highly respected for his intelligence, straight dealing, hard work, moral character, and honesty. Few men, given so little, can achieve their dreams while maintaining their core values as well as Joe did. Joe is survived by his sons Tom, Bill and Michael, daughters-in-law Suzanne, Rebecca, and Gena, and 8 grandchildren: Christina, Rachel, Joseph (Jay), William, Nicole, Everett, Cecilia, and Weston. He is also survived by his sister Barbara Vaughn Coleman, brother-in-law Arland B. Coleman, and seven nieces, who were the daughters he never had: Balyn, Cindy, Darri Jo, Elise, Francel, Gina, and Heather. He is also survived by his unofficially adopted sons Dwaine Ofczarzak and Mike Simpson, his older brother James W Vaughn, and by the entire town of Port Mansfield, TX. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Thomas High School Houston, Texas: either the Vaughn Scholarship Fund or the 4500 Forever Campaign. He did it once, and he did it right.