Florence Lillian (Rice) Vaughn

FLORENCE LILLIAN (RICE) VAUGHN

This was written by Jim Vaughn:

Florence Lillian Rice Vaughn was born on December 1, 1894 in Merrill, WI. Her family came to Wenatchee in 1902 and she grew up there.

She graduated from Bellingham Normal School with a lifetime teaching certificate and taught school for a total of 27 years.

She met her husband to be while she was teaching in the Entiat Valley and Boarding with the Vaughn family. There were 9 Vaughn children, so the Vaughn's represented a good portion of the school enrollment.

She married Stanley George Vaughn on June 12, 1920 and raised a family of 5 children.

When Stanley was injured in 1936, Florence returned to teaching to support the family.

Teaching jobs were scarce for so many years. She had to teach rural schools like Pitcher Canyon, Chesaw, WA (near Oroville) and 25 mile creek on Lake Chelan.

During this time, her family was split. The younger two lived at school with her and the 3 older sons were at home. She would return often to supervise the Home-front. She many times drove a 1938 Buick 185 miles thru snow and storms, putting on her own chains to make sure that all was well at home!

Later in 1943, she and her sister in-law, Christine (Peterson) Vaughn pioneered the teaching of Handicap Children in Wenatchee.

She finally retired in 1958 and she and Stanley moved to Seattle.

                                                  Florence and Alfred Tennyson Vaughn
                                                                        1980

                                           Florence, Alfred and Flora Vaughn Sept 1980

Stanley died in 1969 of a massive heart attack (due to diabetes). She spent her later years at the Northwest Danish Home and Burien Terrace Nursing Home in Seattle.

Here's her Official obituary:

Florence L. Vaughn

Died June 15 (1989). She was born in Merrill, Wis. and was a retired school teacher in the Chelan and Douglas County School Districts. She was a member of the State and National Retired Teachers Associations and the Highline United Methodist Church. She was preceeded in death by her husband, Stanley G. Vaughn. She is survived by three sons: James, HOmer and E. Lowell; two daughters Mary Taplett and Carolyn Corley; 21 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and three great-great granddaughters. Memorial services will be held on Monday at 1 p.m. at the Highline United Methodist Church. Visitation will be at the Pattrer's Funeral Chapel in Burien, Sunday from 3-5 p.m. and Monday from 6-8 p.m. Burial will be at the Wenatchee Cemetery, Tuesday at 3 p.m.