James “Jim” M. Vaughn
On December 23, 2020 Jim died after a brief illness and entered the Kingdom of God.
Beloved husband of Jill (nee Hebenstreit), loving father of James (Alina Gisela) and Robert “Nathan” (Nikki); devoted grandfather to Breana, Jayden, Bryson and Jake; son of the late M.H. and Billie Vaughn; loving brother to Vickie (Skip) Hujsak and Joe (Caryn) Vaughn. Greatest Brother-in-Law to late Judy James, Margo (Doug)Mohesky, Joe (Brenda) Hebenstreit, Gail (Bob) Mirbaha, Kurt (Erin) Hebenstreit and Eileen (Pat) Fitzgerald. Favorite uncle to 26 nieces and nephews and friend to many.
Jim was born in Oklahoma City, OK February 2nd, 1952. He spent most of his youth in Midland Texas enjoying his childhood with sister Vickie and brother Joe. His family later moved to Oklahoma City where Jim finished high school. Following family tradition, he attended Oklahoma University in Norman, OK where he would graduate with a master’s degree in botany. He loved his time at OU and was a proud Sooner.
He moved to St. Louis for work and eventually ended up at Italgrani Elevator where he worked for almost 30 years, retiring as the Superintendent. When he retired, he designed and built his new home. He then spent more time on making his jewelry selling it through various arts fairs in the area. His hobbies were the three “G’s”, guitar, golfing and gardening and he was expert at all. He loved getting together with his like-minded friends and talking politics.
He was a wonderful husband to Jill, his wife of 31 years, supporting her in all her activities. He was Jill’s best friend and biggest promoter.
He was so proud of his sons and their families. He always loved wearing shirts and hats that spoke of their military service, Jimmy U.S. Army and Nathan U.S. Air Force. He was so happy that both ended up with kind, smart and beautiful wives. His grandkids meant the world to him, Breana ready to finish school as a nurse, Jayden playing college baseball, Bryson just starting high school and his partner in everything, Jake.
Above all, Jim was a devoted family man. He loved having family around and hosted weekly Saturday dinners for whoever could make it, where he had no problem cooking for 25 – 30 people. Everyone was welcome and he loved when his kids, in-laws or nieces/nephews would bring their friends, he truly had an open house, and his only fear was there might not be enough food (there were always leftovers). Afterwards, sitting outside by a bonfire or playing Euchre was the perfect end to the evening.
In the last three years, Jim was hit with the sudden onset of a neurological disease that caused crippling and constant pain, robbing him of his ability to make jewelry and severely limiting his ability to play guitar. Despite the constant pain and loss of energy, he would get up every day and try to keep up with his many projects. One of the things he loved doing was picking up his grandson from school, he loved being one of the first cars on the lot and socializing with the other drivers. Nothing interfered with this obligation, even if that meant changing doctor appointments or trips. So, in honor of something that gave Jim great joy, in lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations in Jim’s name to Assumption Parish School, 4725 Mattis Road, St. Louis, MO 63128 or to a Veterans Charity of your choice.
We would like to invite friends and family to the following memorial services:
VISATAION: Sunday, Jan 3, 4pm-8pm Kutis South County Chapel, 5255 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis, MO 63129
SERVICE: Monday, Jan 4, 9:30am Kutis South County Chapel, to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Catholic Church, 4900 Ringer Road, St. Louis, MO 63129 for 10:00 a.m. Mass.
INTERMENT: Resurrection Cemetery.
You will be required to follow all masking and social distancing requirements.
Note: The Mass on Monday will be live streamed for family and friends. The live stream can be found through the following link SMMAPARISH YOUTUBE LIVE STREAM (or search SMMA PARISH St. Louis on YouTube).
Jill,
From all of your friends at the Martial Arts Center we are saddened for your loss. Please accept our condolences at this difficult time.
Jill,
From all of your friends at the Martial Arts Center we are saddened for your loss. Please accept our condolences at this difficult time.
Dear Jill, what a beautiful tribute to a wonderful and unique man. Mark and I have so many memories of Jim. He always seemed so genuinely happy to see us and made us feel so welcome in your beautiful home. We are so grateful and honored for the open invite to Saturday dinners. I will treasure the pieces of jewelry I have that were made by Jim’s hands and the way he played guitar with those same hands, with Ross, the last time we were at your house. He was the best teammate at Doug’s annual Music Trivia Party. I always enjoyed hearing how proud he was of his sons, daughters in-law and grandchildren. I’m thinking of Jim pain-free, playing guitar, dancing, cooking, sparking-up some good debates and watching over his family and friends from heaven. Rest In Peace, Buddy. Love you both.
Dear Jill, what a beautiful tribute to a wonderful and unique man. Mark and I have so many memories of Jim. He always seemed so genuinely happy to see us and made us feel so welcome in your beautiful home. We are so grateful and honored for the open invite to Saturday dinners. I will treasure the pieces of jewelry I have that were made by Jim’s hands and the way he played guitar with those same hands, with Ross, the last time we were at your house. He was the best teammate at Doug’s annual Music Trivia Party. I always enjoyed hearing how proud he was of his sons, daughters in-law and grandchildren. I’m thinking of Jim pain-free, playing guitar, dancing, cooking, sparking-up some good debates and watching over his family and friends from heaven. Rest In Peace, Buddy. Love you both.
Jill
So sorry to hear of your kids! Know that you are all in our prayers!
Lee and Pay Schumer
Jill
So sorry to hear of your kids! Know that you are all in our prayers!
Lee and Pay Schumer
Jill, Bill and I are so sorry for your loss.
You are in our prayers.
Jill, Bill and I are so sorry for your loss.
You are in our prayers.
My deepest condolences, Jill, in Jim’s passing. You remain in my prayers.
My deepest condolences, Jill, in Jim’s passing. You remain in my prayers.
Jill,
A beautiful tribute to a remarkable human being. He will be missed my so many. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. I’m am so deeply sorry for you loss.
Jill,
A beautiful tribute to a remarkable human being. He will be missed my so many. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. I’m am so deeply sorry for you loss.
Dear Jill,
I have the best memories of Jim. He was always so kind to me & very funny. Your tribute above is wonderful. I will always treasure the necklace Jim made for me, and I will miss him very much.
Dear Jill,
I have the best memories of Jim. He was always so kind to me & very funny. Your tribute above is wonderful. I will always treasure the necklace Jim made for me, and I will miss him very much.
So sorry for your loss. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers
So sorry for your loss. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers
Awesome tribute to Jim. My most sincere condolences to you and the family Jill. I have great memories of him giving me planting tips on those hot peppers and always having them on hand for me. I loved the music and baseball trivia and debates as well as watching some Oklahoma football with him the times I went to visit.. He will be missed. RIP my friend.
Awesome tribute to Jim. My most sincere condolences to you and the family Jill. I have great memories of him giving me planting tips on those hot peppers and always having them on hand for me. I loved the music and baseball trivia and debates as well as watching some Oklahoma football with him the times I went to visit.. He will be missed. RIP my friend.
I Want to Send my deepest condolences to the Vaughn Family and PRAYERS to My Childhood Freinds Jimmy and Nathan Love yall Keep your Heads Up. Charles McKnight and Family.
I Want to Send my deepest condolences to the Vaughn Family and PRAYERS to My Childhood Freinds Jimmy and Nathan Love yall Keep your Heads Up. Charles McKnight and Family.
Dear Jill,
I was so sad to hear of Jim passing…he is really in God’s Kingdom. I have such good memory of Jim….he was truly a very good person .
Jim was Larry’s favorite person when Jim and I worked together at Italgrani.
You and the family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Dear Jill,
I was so sad to hear of Jim passing…he is really in God’s Kingdom. I have such good memory of Jim….he was truly a very good person .
Jim was Larry’s favorite person when Jim and I worked together at Italgrani.
You and the family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Jim was a true GENTLE-MAN. A heart of gold, a man with a positive spirit who truly loved his family and friends. I was blessed to know him as Jake’s devoted grandpa, and loving father to James and Alina, and devoted husband to Jill. His passing leaves a tremendous void in so many lives. My sincere condolences to Jill, James, Alina and Jake. He is missed but never will be forgotten.
Jim was a true GENTLE-MAN. A heart of gold, a man with a positive spirit who truly loved his family and friends. I was blessed to know him as Jake’s devoted grandpa, and loving father to James and Alina, and devoted husband to Jill. His passing leaves a tremendous void in so many lives. My sincere condolences to Jill, James, Alina and Jake. He is missed but never will be forgotten.
You will be missed, old friend! To borrow Jackson Browne’s lyrics:
When we parted we were laughing still,
As our goodbyes were said,
And I seldom heard from him again,
As each our lives we led,
Except for times on his son Jimmy’s Facebook thread I read,
Until I heard the sudden word that a friend of mine was dead
I sit before my only candle,
Like a pilgrim sits beside the wave,
And his story appears before my candle,
As a song that’s growing fainter,
The harder that I play.
I fear before I end I’ll fade away,
But I guess I’ll get there,
But I wouldn’t say-ay for sure
You will be missed, old friend! To borrow Jackson Browne’s lyrics:
When we parted we were laughing still,
As our goodbyes were said,
And I seldom heard from him again,
As each our lives we led,
Except for times on his son Jimmy’s Facebook thread I read,
Until I heard the sudden word that a friend of mine was dead
I sit before my only candle,
Like a pilgrim sits beside the wave,
And his story appears before my candle,
As a song that’s growing fainter,
The harder that I play.
I fear before I end I’ll fade away,
But I guess I’ll get there,
But I wouldn’t say-ay for sure
We knew Jim through his grandson Jake. Our son Mason is in his class at Assumption. I’ll always remember the incredibly cool pinewood derby cars he helped Jake build in Cub Scouts. I think he won Best in Show three years in a row 🙂
Jim hosted one of Jake’s birthday parties at his house one year; in which a bunch of his classmates, including Mason, were invited and attended. I would have been pulling my hair out with that many 6 or 7 year olds running around but Jim couldn’t stop smiling. He just took so much joy in having that much youthful exuberance in his home.
Of course, I’ll also remember seeing him picking up Jake from Assumption. He was most often in the first row. He would get out of his truck a few minutes before the kids were released, walk up to the front of the cars, and talk with any parent within earshot. He was truly a kind and special guy.
We are so sorry for your loss.
We knew Jim through his grandson Jake. Our son Mason is in his class at Assumption. I’ll always remember the incredibly cool pinewood derby cars he helped Jake build in Cub Scouts. I think he won Best in Show three years in a row 🙂
Jim hosted one of Jake’s birthday parties at his house one year; in which a bunch of his classmates, including Mason, were invited and attended. I would have been pulling my hair out with that many 6 or 7 year olds running around but Jim couldn’t stop smiling. He just took so much joy in having that much youthful exuberance in his home.
Of course, I’ll also remember seeing him picking up Jake from Assumption. He was most often in the first row. He would get out of his truck a few minutes before the kids were released, walk up to the front of the cars, and talk with any parent within earshot. He was truly a kind and special guy.
We are so sorry for your loss.
Fond memories of Jim, my roommate freshman year at Mills house at OU. We both played guitar and introduced each other to new music. He also let me ride shotgun in his VW Beetle. I met the whole family that year – as I was far from home myself. Jim was a special person in so many ways and I offer my heartfelt condolences to Joe and Vicki and the whole family on your loss. Jim changed my life in ways he’ll never know. I send my prayers and thoughts from Germany and grieve along with many others.
Fond memories of Jim, my roommate freshman year at Mills house at OU. We both played guitar and introduced each other to new music. He also let me ride shotgun in his VW Beetle. I met the whole family that year – as I was far from home myself. Jim was a special person in so many ways and I offer my heartfelt condolences to Joe and Vicki and the whole family on your loss. Jim changed my life in ways he’ll never know. I send my prayers and thoughts from Germany and grieve along with many others.
Beautiful words, Jill, to describe your one and only. I know he loved your smile and your laugh, do not let them fade. He still sees and hears you. Prayers for you and the boys and the entire family. Truly sorry for all for the loss of this good guy.
Beautiful words, Jill, to describe your one and only. I know he loved your smile and your laugh, do not let them fade. He still sees and hears you. Prayers for you and the boys and the entire family. Truly sorry for all for the loss of this good guy.
One of my fondest memories is of Jim playing his air guitar at a birthday party. I think the selection was one of AC/DC songs. Glad to see Jim cut loose.
One of my fondest memories is of Jim playing his air guitar at a birthday party. I think the selection was one of AC/DC songs. Glad to see Jim cut loose.
Jim was unique in all the best possible ways. I cherish every moment shared talking and listening to him. There were of course a few subjects of conversation which were best avoided to prevent a potential tangent becoming a strongly worded lecture.
However, I shall never fully “miss” Jim because he survives in each person who knew him – especially Jake (mini Jim). We have each been blessed with an opportunity to experience his personality, strength, commitment, compassion, warmth, and honor. I look forward to sharing these traits with others and allowing Jim’s legacy to continue on. God bless us all.
Jim was unique in all the best possible ways. I cherish every moment shared talking and listening to him. There were of course a few subjects of conversation which were best avoided to prevent a potential tangent becoming a strongly worded lecture.
However, I shall never fully “miss” Jim because he survives in each person who knew him – especially Jake (mini Jim). We have each been blessed with an opportunity to experience his personality, strength, commitment, compassion, warmth, and honor. I look forward to sharing these traits with others and allowing Jim’s legacy to continue on. God bless us all.
Dear Jill, I don’t know why you crossed my mind today, but I was saddened to find that the first google hit for you was Jim’s obituary. I didn’t know him well enough, but know he was a fabulous man if he won and held your heart for so long. Wishing you and yours only the very best.
From an old friend. You often cross my mind. I hope you rest in peace. Agape.
Diane