Margaret Lenore [Skinner] Vaughn 1921-2011

SKINNER, VAUGHN, MCCLEARY, GRAY, HAMAKER, DENNY, WEISSHAAR, HEMBRY, STONE, STEWART, HONDERD, FERREL, WILSON, CASON

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 1/12/2012 at 00:14:35

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa December 14, 2011)

VAUGHN, Margaret Skinner, 90, of Leon, Iowa, died on Sunday, December 11, 2011, at the Decatur County Hospital in Leon, Iowa. Services are pending through Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home of Leon.

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa December 21, 2011)

VAUGHN, Margaret Skinner, 90, of Leon, Iowa, died on Sunday, December 11, 2011, at the Decatur County Hospital in Leon, Iowa. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 15, 2011 at Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa with Pastor Dale Short officiating. Burial was at High Point Cemetery, East of Leon.

Memorials may be given to the High Point United Methodist Church.

Obituary -

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa December 21, 2011)

MARGARET LENORE VAUGHN ... Margaret Lenore Vaughn, age 90 of Leon, Iowa, the third of four children born to Guy E. and L. Ruth McCleary Skinner, was born April 30, 1921 at the family home near High Point in Decatur County, Iowa. She passed away December 11, 2011 at the Decatur County Hospital in Leon.

Margaret graduated from Garden Grove High School and then attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls for one year. She taught at country schools in Decatur County for 7 years, one at Scratcheye and six at Beavers. When Margaret was two years old, she received a two-year old pony, Dick, which she rode to attend school while growing up and then as she began her career as a teacher.

Since teachers were not allowed to be married at that time, Margaret was secretly married to Walter Dean Vaughn on December 23, 1944. After she finished her school year, the wedding was announced. Margaret and Dean raised five children: Kathryn, Paula, Sharon, Norma, and Jerry in the farmhouse that Dean built.

While raising her family, Margaret was a substitute teacher at Beavers School and helped teach all four her daughters. Later, Margaret was a teacher's aide in Leon and helped teach her son. Margaret also worked at LJ Floral and Greenhouse, and Leon Rexall Drug.

Throughout their 60-year marriage, Dean and Margaret worked together in harmony. Margaret was not "just a farmwife," but a farmer who worked hand-in-hand with her husband Dean.

The farm was an important part of Margaret's life. She showed Holstein heifers at the Iowa State Fair when she was a girl. When her own daughters were growing up, Margaret was a 4-H leader for their clubs.

In 1931 when she was ten years old, Margaret was baptized at the High Point Methodist Church. When the church celebrated its 150th Anniversary in 2009, Margaret was honored to be recognized as having the longest membership of the High Point United Methodist Church. She was a member of the High Point United Methodist Women and Bible Study Group.

Margaret and Dean enjoyed wintering in Texas for 12 years. They also had a team of ponies they enjoyed driving in local parades. Margaret was a member of the Leon Red Hat Ladies. Her blue eyes and infectious smile lit up when she talked with pride about her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was a very loving Mom and Grandma, caring not only for her own family but also neighborhood children and former students. Even to her last moments, Margaret gave care and instructions to her family surrounding her.

Preceding Margaret in death were her parents; brother Paul Skinner; sister Venita Gray; husband Dean Vaughn on December 16, 2003; grandson Justin Todd Hamaker; and granddaughter Kristen Elizabeth Denny.

Survivors include her five children; Kathryn Weisshaar and husband Fred of Indianola, Iowa, Paula Hembry and husband David of Ankeny, Iowa, Sharon Hamaker and husband Bill of Garden Grove, Iowa, Norma Stone and husband Tom of Leon, and Jerry Vaughn of Leon and Karla; grandchildren: Deborah Weisshaar (Jim), Diane Stewart (Bob), Jana Honderd (Brad), Anthony Hembry (Stephanie), Clint Hamaker (Judi), Melanie Hamaker, Jenny Ferrel (Cory), Alicia Wilson (David), and Megan Cason (Shane); 14 great grandchildren and one on-the-way; brother Ted Skinner and wife Barbara of Leon; numerous nieces and nephews; and other relatives and many friends.