Mary Beth Gee Vaughn, daughter of Elmer Charles and Sadie (Beach) Gee, was born on August 20, 1918, at her parents' home in Granada, Colorado. Mary Beth entered into eternal rest on Monday, December 14, 2009, at the Shenandoah Medical Center at the age of 91 years, 3 months and 24 days after being cared for at her home for the past 9 years.
Her early life was spent in the communities of Granada, CO, Pueblo, CO, Cedar Rapids, IA and Shenandoah, IA. Mary Beth graduated as valedictorian from Shenandoah High School with the Class of 1936. She was active in school plays, speech, the school annual and newspaper. Following high school she attended Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, receiving a degree in history in 1940.
On August 22, 1940, Mary Beth was united in marriage to Edward Churchill Vaughn, Sr. at her parents home in Shenandoah. Following their marriage they resided in Montgomery, AL, where she began her teaching career in 1941. Ed and Mary Beth started their family in Macon GA in 1943. Due to Ed's military commitment the family moved to Salem, OR and Mineral Wells, TX, before settling in Shenandoah.
Upon their return to Shenandoah, Mary Beth worked for the Iowan Magazine. Mary Beth was a teacher at the Shenandoah High School from 1961 to 1981. She was Head of the English Department and taught Sophomore English, Modern Communications, Sight and Sound, Photography, as well as sponsoring the school newspaper, the Shen High Can . Mary Beth was credited with organizing the first "Earth Day" celebration at SHS. In 1985, the Mary Beth Vaughn English Award at SHS was created in honor of her 20 years of teaching.
Through the years, she was also active PEO where she was a 60 year member of the JA Chapter, Child Study Club, Book Club, was a member of the United Methodist Church, American Field Service (AFS) and working on school bond issues during the 1950's and 60's. She enjoyed camping, square dancing, gardening and bird watching. Mary Beth was one of the founders of the Shenandoah Area Christmas Bird Count in 1955. This year's Christmas Bird Count is dedicated to Mary Beth and is being held today.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Elmer and Sadie Gee, husband, Edward Churchill Vaughn, Sr. and brother, Charles Robert Gee. Those left to cherish her memory include: Susan Beach Vaughn and Fleet Mullinax, Edward (Ned) Churchill Vaughn, Jr. and Rosemary, Elizabeth (Betsy) Vaughn Ayers and Arthur and Barbara Cunningham. She has four grandchildren, Jill Lindsay Vaughn of St. Paul, MN, Sadie Elizabeth Ayers and Emma Vaughn Ayers both of Tacoma, WA and Hannah Agnell Ayers of Forest Grove, OR. Her faithful caregivers include: Carol O'Neil, Sharon Swank, Rosmery Gutierrez, Julia Lopez, Maria Mather, Andrea Swank, Brooke Erickson, Maria Amurrio-Dodd and others. She is also survived by sister-in-law Mrs. Charles R. (Jeanne Anderson ) Gee, niece Sally West Gee and nephew Timothy Charles Gee, many friends, fellow teachers and students throughout the years.
A memorial service was held at the First United Methodist Church in Shenandoah on Saturday, December 19, 2009, with Rev. Clarke Finehout officiating. At the Memory Register was Ray and Kathy Graves and Doug and Connie Quist. The book of memories was attended by Mary Belle Reed. Ushers for the service was Jim Sligar, Gordon Jones and Duane Rexroth. The soloist for the service was Pam Lewis the organist was Becky Hoenshel. Memorial s may be directed the Mary Beth Vaughn English Scholarship Fund. Condolences and remembrances may be shared with the family at hackettlivingston.com. Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home of Shenandoah was entrusted with the services.