Neal Vaughan

Neal Vaughan, 91 a longtime De Baca County farmer and cattle rancher died Friday, April 20, 2012 at the Vaughan family ranch south of Fort Sumner. His family was at his bedside. Clifton Neal Vaughan was born May 15, 1920 in Fort Sumner to the home of George Reber Vaughan and the former Emma Schooler. He attended and graduated from Fort Sumner Schools in 1939. He attended New Mexico State University. Neal married Dorothy May Redick in Albuquerque, NM on September 17, 1942. On the day following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Neal enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served until his honorable discharge on December 31, 1945 with the rank of Tech Sergeant. His tour of duty included five campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. Neal returned to the family ranch south of Fort Sumner where he ranched and farmed. He was a member of the De Baca and New Mexico Farm Bureau, New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, and served for 17 years on the A.S.C.S. board. He was also a member of the First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed teaching his grandchildren to play dominoes. Neal is preceded in death by his parents, a brother Frank Vaughan, and two sisters Rosa Evans and Dorthea Snelson. Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Dorothy Vaughan of the ranch home, three sons Lloyd Redick Vaughan and wife Melody of Dallas, TX; Richard Neal Vaughan and wife Ellen of the family ranch, Charles George Vaughan and wife Rhonda of the family ranch; three daughters Laurel Ann Tisler and husband Paul of Roswell, NM; Mary Hillin and husband Mike of Longmont, CO; and Frances Schroeder and husband Jay of T or C, NM. Also surviving is a brother George Vaughan of Albuquerque; two sisters Ann Porter and husband Dave of Santa Fe, NM, and Emma Jean Duriez and husband George of Vallejo, CA; along with 11 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, April 23, 2012 at the Chavez Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Sumner, NM with Jim Vaughan and Rev. Glenn Thyrion Officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the Vaughan family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Austin Vaughan, C. Neal Vaughan, A. Neal Vaughan, Logan Tisler, Michael Vaughan, and Benjamin Hillin. Honorary bearers will all his friends and family. Visitation hours will be Sunday from 1PM to 6PM and Monday from 10AM until service time. The family prefers memorial contributions in memory of Neal Vaughan to The New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranch, P.O. Box 9, Belen, NM 87002-9901; or the Fort Sumner Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 180, Fort Sumner, NM 88119. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, NM 88119. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com