Vickie was born May 19, 1943, in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii, the daughter of Manuel Victor and Sarah Ellen (Paresa) Souza. She graduated high school at Castle High School class of 1961 in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

She was joined in marriage to Michael Czajkowski; they later divorced. She later married Jimmie D. Vaughn in 1972, he preceded her in death in 1976.

In the following years, she married and became a homemaker and mother to two daughters. The family traveled frequently with the United States Marine Corps. The family moved from Hawaii to Emporia in 1975, she enjoyed her new lifestyle. She later graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Arts in English from Emporia State University. She accepted a teaching position at Olpe High School where she remained until her retirement in 2007. One of her aims in English education was to teach her students to write well and introduced many to the tricks of inventing ideas when at first, she would hear them say, “I don’t know what to write about.” In the ensuing years, she received many letters from former students in college who thanked her and expressed shock in learning that many of their college classmates had no idea what a thesis statement was. She is remembered by Olpe students for the snap of her fingers she would give for correct answers or worthwhile discussions. Many collected a record of those snaps on their lockers. When she retired, the graduating class stood up and gave her a snap of their fingers. While still teaching she was appointed to the Lyon County Community Correction Advisory Board representing Education. She chaired that body for the first 5 years, serving as a regular member for the next 15 years.

After retirement, Vickie pursued her hobby, quilting. She has made many quilts, won many awards, and often showed some of them at different events when asked. Her “Pink Lemonade” quilt was her second-place winner in the Kansas State Fair in 2009 after which it became a traveling quilt and displayed at several venues in Topeka.

Vickie will be forever remembered by her daughter, Dawn (George) Lee Kuulei Martinez of St. Charles, Illinois; a grandson, Josh Lee Channing of Missouri; granddaughters, Logan Dawn Shepherd of Emporia, Sarah M. Martinez of St. Charles, Illinois, Ryan Michelle Shepherd of Emporia; great-grandchildren, Caiden Nohea Shepherd, and Bentley Wade Shephard.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Kimberly Michaela Haunani Shephard; and a sister, Myra L. Souza.

Vickie bids her family, friends, and fellow quilters a fond Aloha.

Mrs. Vaughn has been cremated. A private family memorial will be held later. Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to ESU English Scholarship Foundation and sent in care of Jones VanArsdale Funeral Home, P.O. Box 43, Lebo, KS 66856. Condolences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com .