Patricia "Pat" Ann (Ward) Vaughn

Patricia “Pat” Ann (Ward) Vaughn, 88, of Wichita, Kansas passed on March 25, 2024, the night of the full eclipse. She was born in Rush Springs, Oklahoma to the late Leonard Roy and Virgie Amelia (Ward) Vaughn and was younger sister to Easter Charlene.

On September 19, 1954, she married Jackie Lloyd Stephens, who shared her birthday, and in 1955, they welcomed their only child together, Pamela Elaine. A few years into the marriage, the new family moved to Wichita, Kansas, where she began working alongside her husband in the family the grocery store of Jack’s IGA.

Eventually the store was sold and Pat, after graduating from beauty school in 1965, she began working at Château Couture’s in West Wichita, however, after only 16 years together, Jack passed suddenly in 1971 and Pat, being the strong woman she was, had a salon built in her home to be able to care for the family.

After a few years, she’d marry Artie Vaughn in 1973, who brought three children she saw as her own, in Pam, Angie, and Artie. Now with a full family, she’d fall in love with their farm on west 13th where she grew a passion for the many horses they raised and raced. Not only that, she also gained a new career as a secretary alongside him.

Unfortunately, like Jack before, 16 years into the marriage, Artie passed unexpectedly and Pat clung to the family and friendships she’d made. These people and more became the most important to her such as: Sandy Phillips, Rae Ann Angelo, Holly Miller, Patty Stephens, Vickie Morgan, and Dawn Phillips where those 5 O’clock Fridays weren’t often missed!

As her family grew, so did the acronyms she’d take on when grandchildren came along with: Bree, Jayson, Andrea, Davis, and Maddie and great-grandmother to Luke and Jake Kelley and Roxie Maybee. She was so loved, even family friends such as Dawn Phillips called her mom.

She not only had many adventures in her adult married life, but even more with those that came after. Memories that will be cherished by them all.

In her 70’s, family was managing Avita Assisted Living on Maize Road where Pat lived for a bit, before moving into Dove Estates and later in Larksfield Assisted Living. There was a house on Driftwood during COVID19, so family could visit, and her last few years were celebrated at Presbyterian Manor. Though she had some health challenges toward the end, her eternal fighting spirit and time with family and friends, kept her going.

Pat is preceded by her parents and sister and those left to cherish her memory are children: Pamela (Stephens) Russell, Pam (Mark) Morgan, Angie (Doug) Vaughn-Johnson and Artie Vaughn; grandchildren: Bree Russell, Jayson Russell, Andrea Morgan, Davis (Sade) Morgan, Maddie (Jack) Hannifan; and great-grandchildren: Luke Kelley, Jake Kelley, Roxie Maybee. Harper Hannifan, Ryder Morgan, and Bowen Morgan.

There is a lot more to her story and don’t worry, it will be uploaded here after her Celebration of Life Service. (We didn’t want to give it all away before then, so check back!)

The Celebration Service for Pat will be held at the Castaway Club on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 1PM. Lunch will be served and the address is: 6252 W. 45th Street North, Wichita, KS 67205.

RSVP to Pam by Friday, May 17, 2024, via Facebook or her directly.

We ask girlfriends to wear white shirts, colorful pants, and sparkles if you have them, because she would have them on, no questions asked!!!

The event will be recorded and available soon after the service.

Thanks to Brad Cahill at 2020Films for lending his expertise to make the family’s dream become reality!