Jim Bob Vaughan

After a long battle with congestive heart failure, Jim Bob Vaughan, 91, was completely healed and given the gift of eternal life on March 20, 2018, in Mineral Wells. He was surrounded by his family and very special friends as they said farewell for a little while. He had been a wonderful husband, father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, son, brother, who was respected and loved by them all.A celebration of Bob's life will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Mineral Wells, Texas at 3:00 on Friday, March 23 with Reverend Eric Douglas officiating. Burial will follow at Woodland Park Cemetery immediately after the Service. Visitation with the family will be held in the Baum-Carlock-Bumgardner Annex on Thursday, March 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. Pallbearers will be Gary Fanning, Sidney Fanning, Ryan Vaughan, Cole Vaughan, Bobby Richards and Chris Parish. Honorary pallbearers are Larry Harrington, Don Bishop, Ken Johnson, Jerry Tunnel and members of Bob's Pathfinder's Sunday School Class.Bob was the third son born to Jack and Alva Debusk Vaughan on October 25, 1926 in Mineral Wells. He graduated from Mineral Wells High School in 1944 and joined the United States Maritime Service where he was a radio telegrapher and Warrant Officer. When WWII was over he joined the US Navy where he trained to be an instructor for radar and bombing gear. When stationed at Ward Island in Corpus Christi, Bob would often hitch hike 385 miles home with just enough time for a meal and some hugs before starting his journey back to his base. When Bob was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1947, he returned to Mineral Wells to work on the family ranch in a partnership with his Dad and brother.On March 9, 1949, he had his first date with the only girl that he ever loved, Yvonne Smith, and they were married on April 29, 1949 in Yvonne's home with Reverend Roger Bell from the First Baptist Church officiating the ceremony. Bob and Yvonne soon built their first home themselves with the help of neighbors and family. Bob worked as a cashier for Texas Power and Light Company for a few months until he and Yvonne moved to College Station and became a freshman at Texas A&M University. He graduated with honors in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation, Bob went to work for Texas Power and Light Company again, this time as an engineer located in Dallas. He later wore many other hats in engineering and management with the Company and received many honors in the communities where he worked. During these years, their family was made complete with the birth of their daughter, Robin and son, Paul.During his working years, they were located in Dallas, Waco, Temple, Tyler, McGregor, Gainesville, Austin, Dallas again, and Duncanville. During the 12 years in Duncanville, Bob served as Director of State Affairs, working out of Dallas and Austin. That was when he educated his family to the fact that the much-maligned reputation of "lobbyist" can be an honorable one and serve an honorable purpose. In his last few years with TP&L, he served as Manager of System Operating Services located in Lancaster, Texas. He retired from TP&L in 1987 after 35 years of service and many close friends from the Company and communities where the family had lived.Bob received numerous civic awards and served in many organizations in those towns. It was while he was presiding at a Rotary Club meeting in Tyler, Texas, in 1963, that he was interrupted with the message that President Kennedy had been shot and killed and he relayed that information to the speaker for the day, future President George H.W. Bush.Before moving back to Mineral Wells, Bob and Yvonne were recognized with an award from the Palo Pinto County Soil and Water Conservation District for being the outstanding "Absentee Conservation Rancher" of the year. In 1988, he and Yvonne moved to the family farm south of Mineral Wells that had first belonged to his grandparents. There they started a second career in a cow/calf operation which had been a dream of his since he was a teenager. They continued to live on this acreage until the very end of his life. In the years after the family's return to Mineral Wells, Bob served on the Palo Pinto County Soil and Water Conservation Board, The Sturdivant Progress Water Supply Board, The Elmwood Cemetery Association Board and as a member and Chairman of the Lone Star Federal Land Bank Board of Directors. The family was always active in the Methodist Church where they lived. At each of those churches, Bob served in many capacities, serving as a member and often Chairman of many of the committees and boards. He taught youth and Sunday School classes in several churches and occasionally filled the pulpit of a few.Bob adored his 2 children, his 4 grandchildren and his 2 great grandchildren. It should be said that his two lap dogs, Isabelle and Prissy, were a big part of the joy in his life. Wherever he was, they were always there. Another lasting and loving relationship that has continued for over 40 years was made with the two exchange students in the family's life, Yaska Nisula from Finland and Masao Miyamoto from Japan.Bob is survived by his wife of almost 69 years. Yvonne Smith Vaughan; daughter Robin Vaughan Fanning of Bryan Texas; son-in-law, Mark Fanning of Waurika, Oklahoma; son Paul Vaughan and wife Saskia Ecklemans Vaughan of Mineral Wells; grandchildren, Gary Fanning and wife Lisa Richter Fanning of College Station; Sidney Fanning of Mineral Wells; Ryan Vaughan of Carrizo Springs; Cole Vaughan and wife Jordan Banks Vaughan of Mineral Wells; great grandchildren, Hayden Fanning, Abigail Fanning, several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and very special cousins, Bill Vaughan, John (Shotgun) Vaughan, and Betty Vaughan Kidwell.He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Alva DeBusk Vaughan; brothers, Ramon Earl and wife Juanita Fowler Vaughan; Jack Calvin and wife Sammie Bennett Vaughan; grandparents of Palo Pinto County, E.I. and Martha Simpkins DeBusk; Richard Manly and Mayme Pittman Vaughan.The family wishes to thank caregivers from Abby Home Health and Alpha-Omega Hospice for not only their excellent professionalism and skilled care but also for the love and comfort that they showed for many months: Vicky, Katie, Tammy, Ashley, Dennis, Cindy, Shane, Rachael, Cissy, Glenda, and for the many friends and loved ones who enriched Bob's life with their prayers, visits, cards, phone calls and expressions of love during these last three years of his life. Bob would want any memorials in his honor to be made to his beloved church, First United Methodist of Mineral Wells.