Dorothy Vaughan

Dorothy Redick Vaughan was born September 1, 1922 in Gallup, NM to Charles Bryan Redick and Cleo Frances (Pierce) Redick. She passed away July 2, 2014 in Roswell, NM. Dorothy moved with her family to Fort Sumner in 1934 where Mr. Redick was superintendent of the schools. She lived in the Fort Sumner area for the remainder of her life. Dorothy graduated from Fort Sumner High School in 1940. She attended New Mexico A&M in Las Cruces where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. On September 17, 1942 she married Neal Vaughan of Fort Sumner, in Albuquerque while he was on furlough from his army base in California. While Neal was in Europe during WWII, Dorothy worked at the railroad depot in Fort Sumner hanging mail bags for the trains to pick up. After Neal returned from the war, they moved to the ranch south of Fort Sumner where they ranched, farmed and raised their family. While the children grew, Dorothy was a marvelous cook expert seamstress, and longtime 4-H leader. Dorothy belonged to the First United Methodist Church, serving in many capacities including Sunday school teacher, choir member, organist, and church board member for over 40 years. The family joke was, as Dorothy said once, “I lost all my religion trying to get six kids ready for church on Sunday mornings.” Dorothy was an active member of the Powderhorn Cowbells and the American National Cattlewomen Association. She held many offices on the local, state, and national levels. She served as President of the American National Cattlewomen Association in 1988. She was also recognized as Woman of the Year by the De Baca County Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the NM Beef Council, served on the Fort Sumner School Board, and the De Baca General Hospital Board for several years. She was also secretary of Farm Bureau for over 30 years. She enjoyed playing Bridge with her friends, sewing, and needlepoint. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 69 years in 2012, her parents, her sister Mary Saner and her brother Joseph Redick. She is survived by her six children: Lloyd (Melody) Vaughan of Dallas, TX, Laurel (Paul) Tisler of Roswell, NM, Mary (Mike) Hillin of Longmont, CO, Richard (Ellen) Vaughan of Fort Sumner, Charles (Rhonda) Vaughan of Fort Sumner, Frances (Jay) Schroeder of T or C, NM 11 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10am Monday, July 7, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner, NM with Rev. Mike Stahl officiating. Burial will follow in the Vaughan family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Austin Vaughan, Michael Vaughan, Logan Tisler, A. Neal Vaughan, Charles Neal Vaughan, Benjamin Hillin, and Miguel Chavez. Honorary bearers will be all her family, many friends and good neighbors. Visitation hours will be Sunday, July 6th from 1pm to 6pm at the funeral home. The family requests memorials in memory of Dorothy Vaughn to, First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 410, Fort Sumner, NM 88119, The Ranches (NM Boys and Girls Ranch) P.O. Box 9, Belen, NM 87002-9901, or Fort Sumner Cemetery Association P.O. Box 180, Fort Sumner, NM 88119. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, NM. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book go to www.chavezfuneralhome.com.