Frances Gay Vaughan

I, Frances Gay Chapman Smith Vaughan, was born November 13, 1932, to Frances Earl and Nevelyn Genieve Chapman at my grandparent’s farm in Seminole County, Oklahoma. Edda Lee was my older sister; after me was James Earl (Buddy), then Janice Sue. We moved to Texas during WWII when daddy was transferred to Old Ocean to make aviation fuel for the war. While in Texas, our baby brother Albert Keith was born. After the war was won, we moved back to Jennings. I was saved in the Baptist church in Jennings at age 14. I graduated from Jennings High School in 1950. I married Calvin H. Smith in 1951. He was in the army during the Korean War, stationed at Fort Hood near Killeen, Texas. While there, in 1954, we welcomed our son Kenneth Joe Smith. When the war was over, we moved back to Jennings. In 1956 our daughter Lawanda Kay Smith was born; sadly, she only lived eight days. When Kenny was four, we moved to Tulsa; we had many wonderful years in Tulsa. When Calvin and I both retired, he bought a brand new 1996 ¾ ton Dodge truck and an RV. We made several nice trips to Hugo, Oklahoma, Fun Valley, Colorado, and Parker Dam, California. Sadly, Calvin passed away in 1997, and life changed. After some time, I began to travel again. Kenny helped drive on several trips. My great friends Bill and Helena Turner had moved to Cleveland, Oklahoma. They urged me to join them. After much prayer, I decided to start a new journey in Cleveland, where I built a house. In 1999 I joined the First Baptist Church. Shortly after joining, I became acquainted with Fred Vaughan, who had lost his wife to cancer. I loved to cook, and he loved to eat, so we shared many suppers together. We worked many crossword puzzles and would watch the ten o’clock news before he went home. We both have a love for the Lord and music. Every night we would practice with our guitars. I continued to travel with my camping friends. This went on for five years, and Fred would make the drive to visit me. One day Fred commented that we are wasting many good years by not being married. On August 31, 2007, we got married, and my beautiful house became a beautiful home. I got a husband and two bonus children, Mike and Arleta. We continued to travel in the RV, visiting Zapata, Texas and Branson, Missouri. Sitting home in the recliner was not bad either; what a wonderful life I have had. From the very beginning, God had a plan for me and he carried it out completely. What a great God we serve.

P.S. The old 1996 Dodge is still pulling the RV

I’ll be waiting for you!!

Love Gay

Frances Gay Chapman Smith Vaughan went to be with the Lord January 11, 2023. She was proceeded in death by her first husband Calvin H. Smith, both parents, siblings Edda Lee, Janice Kay, and James (Buddy), daughter Lawanda Kay and best friend Helena Turner. She is survived by husband Fred Vaughan, son and daughter-in-law Kenny and Hyesuk Smith. Bonus children Mike and wife Valerie Vaughan and Arleta and husband Donny Wilson. Brother Albert Keith Chapman and wife Marilyn, sister-in-law Dorothy Chapman. Grandchildren Mallory and Amalio Vargas, Krissy and Stewart Mortensen, Roxanne Hilgemann, Patrick Vaughan, Brooke and Dustin Malloy, Denton and Stephanie Wilson, and Kylie Wilson. Great grandchildren Cynthia, Claudia, Jaton, Jason, Raken, Vincent, Nova, Remington, Declan, and JJ. Great great granddaughter Sophie.

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