Obituary of Dorothy Joean Vaughn

Funeral Services for Dorothy Joean Vaughn of Elsberry, MO will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at the Elsberry First Baptist Church. Rev. John Zellmer, former pastor of New Hope Baptist Church and Rev. Sam Byers, pastor of Elsberry First Baptist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Elsberry City Cemetery in Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Ronald Vaughn, Jr., Jesse Vaughn, John Robinson, Jacob Wehde, Bill Wehde, Jerry Lewis, Jordan Haworth and Zane Norton. Dorothy, 86, was born on April 20, 1939 in Banner, MO, the third of twelve children born to Marvin Cedil and Leota Myrtle Fryman-Jones Lewis. Surrounded by her family, Dorothy passed away early Saturday morning, May 24, 2025 at her home in Elsberry. Dorothy was united in marriage on June 1, 1957 in Annada, MO to Larry Wayne “Tinker” Vaughn. This union was blessed with two daughters, Terrie Lynn and Lisa Joean. Well known in the Elsberry community, Dorothy worked for a time in the cafeteria at the Elsberry Schools; she worked for many years at MFA Agri Services; and worked for several years at the Elsberry Furniture Store. Dorothy also worked at the Gabbert Ford dealership in Elsberry; she was as a clerk at Missouri Edison for a time; she served her community as the Elsberry City Clerk for quite a few years; and enjoyed working with her sister, Arlene, at Vaughn’s Hallmark Shop. Dorothy and Arlene were proud to volunteer for Community Loving Care Hospice from 1993 until 2013. Dorothy was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church for many years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Leota Lewis; two brothers: Edward Erston Lewis and Michael Keith Lewis; three sisters: Lois Hilda Eaton, Carol Ann Kahler and Alberta Kay Smith; one daughter, Lisa Joean Vaughn in 2021; and her beloved husband of 56 years, Larry “Tinker” Vaughn who died April 13, 2013. Survivors include her daughter, Terrie Harper of Elsberry; four grandchildren: Haley Harper, Kate Harper, Luke Norton and Randi Jo Norton, all of Elsberry; and nine great-grandchildren: Ava, Ella and Jovie, Zane, Lyla and Elle, Myles, Noah and Roman. She also leaves two sisters: Arlene Blanch Vaughn and her husband, Ron, of Elsberry, and Angela Leigh Lee and her husband, Phillip, of St. Charles, MO; four brothers: Marvin Lee “Junior” Lewis of Saugatuck, MI, Paul Edgar Lewis and his wife, Margaret, of Blanchard, OK, Gary Ray Lewis and his wife, Lynn, of Troy, OH, and Jerry Wayne Lewis and his companion, Vita, of Arnold, MO; and was loved by several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at the Elsberry First Baptist Church, 401 N. 5th St., Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the SSM Hospice in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.