Mary Vaughn

Mary’s early years were marked by a deep appreciation for learning and a steady determination to do well. At Tulsa Union High School, she loved school and excelled—so much so that a friend once said he would never have graduated without sitting behind her. That same drive and capability remained a defining thread throughout her life.

Mary found joy and meaning in the arts and in the wider world beyond her doorstep. She enjoyed painting, playing piano, and traveling—interests that reflected both a creative spirit and an eagerness to keep discovering what life had to offer.

She also gave her time in service to others, volunteering for the library. Reading and learning were not simply pastimes for Mary; they were lifelong companions, and she shared that gift generously.

Mary’s life was shaped by an energetic, forward-moving nature—she was a true go-getter. She traveled with her husband, Donald E. Vaughn, whose work as a contract manufacturing engineer in aerospace took them from place to place. Over 37 years of moves, Mary met each new chapter with purpose and resolve, always finding a local library to keep them both reading, and making each community feel a little more like home.

Mary was preceded in death by her father, Eugene Phillips; her mother, Betty Jane (Burgess) Phillips; her brother, Robert Phillips; her sister, Shirley McClure; her great grandson, Knox Dutton; and her 1st husband, James Hubert Wall.

Mary is survived by her husband of 44 years, Donald E. Vaughn; her daughter, Rebecca Tucker; her son, James Wall (Delina); her daughter, LaVeda Montgomery (Kent); her daughter, Debra Campbell (Richard); her daughter, Vicki Jones (Ivan); her daughter, Nancy Swaak (LeRoy); her sister, Margaret McBrayer; 13 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren.

Mary will be remembered with respect and gratitude—for her steadfast love of learning, her creative pursuits, her service through the library, and the determined way she met life’s many changes with grace and purpose.