Dixie Lee Vaughn

Soft spoken, thoughtful, and eager to help friends and family, Dixie Vaughn was filled with patience, care, and love for others.
The world changed throughout the 1930s, the majority which was still under the shadow of the Great Depression. One positive event of the time included was the completion of the Hoover Dam. Another much awaited event was the joy of Paul and Grace (Blue) McGinnis as they welcomed their new daughter Dixie Lee on January 30, 1936 in Warsaw, IN.
Dixie grew up at Pike Lake in Warsaw, where she learned to love ice skating, and where she attended Warsaw City Schools and graduated from Warsaw High School with the Class of 1954. It was also that same year that she married Dean Spicher. On July 22, 1966 she married her second husband Ronald Vaughn in Warsaw after being introduced to him by her friends and employer at Puckett's Cafeteria. Dixie was a homemaker for the majority of her life and enjoyed cooking. Hosting family and holiday gatherings with homemade cakes, pies, cookies and fried oyster dinners were a regular occurrence. From 1964-1973 family Christmas was spent in Fort Lauderdale two weeks on the Atlantic Coast. Dixie eagerly awaited the latest copy of Taste of Home magazine so she could pick a new recipe to try out, but she still loved making old family favorites such as beef and noodle and roast beef meals. Dixie was always generous with her time. She enjoyed taking her daughters and later grandchildren and great-grandchildren on outings, especially shopping.Dixie had a great love of the movie Dr. Zivago and for its music Lara's Theme. She enjoyed listening to pianist Roger Miller and singer Willie Nelson. There were also a few television shows that held Dixie's interest as well such as Family Feud, Let's Make a Deal, The Price is Right, and Animal Planet or travelling shows.
Dixie did have the wonderful opportunity over the years to see many great sights travelling to Spain, Venezuela, Africa, Canary Islands, Jamaica, London, Canada, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Aruba, Mexico, and the Eastern and Western Regions of the United States. Other sights, such as deer and other animals were as close as the living room window for Dixie to enjoy daily, in addition to reading her newspaper.
For all of the love, care, and selfless giving of herself, Dixie will forever hold a dear place in our hearts, never to be forgotten.
Dixie Lee Vaughn, age 82, of Columbia City, IN passed away 4:23 pm on Thursday February 1, 2018 at her residence.
Survivors include her daughters Debra (James) Bear and Dee Ann Wright both of Columbia City; grandchildren Erin (Todd) Cook, Elizabeth (Jason) Fryback, Andrew Watkins, Amanda Watkins, and Gregg Wright; great-grandchildren Madilyn Cook, Makenna Cook, Cameron Watkins, Ember Watkins, Eden Watkins, Hendrix Watkins, Jeremiah Sexton, Jayden Wright, and Belle Wright.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ronald Vaughn, and grandson David Paul Watkins.
Friends may call on Wednesday February 7, 2018 from 10:00-2:00 at DeMoney-Grimes, a LifeStory Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services for Dixie will be held at 2:00 pm at the funeral home, with Certified Funeral Celebrant Sharon Brockhaus officiating. Burial will follow in Union Township Cemetery, Coesse. Memorial contributions in memory of Dixie may be made to Riley Children's Foundation or Humane Society of Whitley County. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send the family a condolence.