Jason Charles Vaughn, born May 11, 1943, in Phillipsburg, Kansas, passed away on May 12, 2023, at age 80 due to complications of esophageal cancer. He battled cancer two other times in his life and won, but sadly this time, he could not win the fight.
He was the son of the late Sarah M. and J. Aaron Vaughn and grew up in Athol, Kansas, with his three sisters (Mary, Lorena and Leota). He also spent much of his time on his uncle Clifford Reece’s farm, doing the typical home and farm chores. He had good memories of learning how to drive a tractor and spending time with his uncle. He attended Athol Grade school in a two-room schoolhouse and graduated in 1961 from Smith Center High School. He always enjoyed school and was an avid reader and learner.
Mr. Vaughn attended Doane College in Crete, Nebraska, for a year, but realizing he would be drafted into the army, joined the U.S. Navy. He worked as a crypto technician and finished his career designing and installing computer systems for the Navy. This was to be his career for the next 28 years, until his retirement in 1988 as a senior master chief – the highest level for enlisted sailors. He worked as a civilian doing consulting work on communications systems for the Navy for many more years until he completely retired from work.
He married in 1964 while stationed in England and was divorced in 1976. He had a daughter (Alicia) in 1969 and a son (Jason) in 1973. His military service took him all over the world (Vietnam, Iceland, England, Scotland, Spain, Germany, and other locations) and though he had to leave family, he kept in close contact with his kids. He always sent birthday and holiday cards, letters and gifts and phone calls. When he was stateside he would take his annual 30 days leave in the summers and have his children stay with him for the entire time. They have fond memories of road trips to Kansas and Colorado to see extended family and going camping and fishing.
Though he could be a reserved and private person, he had another side for close family and friends and enjoyed telling stories and jokes. He was an avid reader (westerns, science fiction), liked bird watching and living in his home in the mountains of West Virginia. He spent many years lovingly crafting his mountain home to his liking, including hand crafting the cedar staircase and wall paneling. He enjoyed his craftsmanship. He believed strongly in being a good neighbor, a good person and doing what was right. He passed this belief on to his children as well, not by telling, but by doing. The family would also like to thank all the people who were good neighbors and friends to him during his lifetime.
Surviving are two sisters, Lorena Parks of Dighton, Kansas, and Leota Marr of Commerce City, Colorado; his two children, Alicia (Bruce) Vaughn Cummings of Dixon, California, and Jason (Jannika) R. Vaughn of Huntington Beach, California; three grandchildren whom he loved dearly, Sarah Cummings (18), Theodore Vaughn (3) and Emiliana Vaughn (8 months); and 13 nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Bader of Cawker City, Kansas.
The date of services is still to be determined with interment at Meyers Cemetery in Athol, Kansas.
For those who would like to remember him, please consider a donation in his name to these charities: The Disabled Veterans of America, American Cancer Society or charity of one’s choice.
