James Leroy Vaughn

James Leroy Vaughn was born on October 22, 1941 in Whittier, California to the late Clayton and Mildred Vaughn. He passed peacefully from this world on February 9, 2021. Jim is survived by his wife, three children, six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Jim and Shirley were married on April 14, 1962 and would have celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary later this year. Throughout their life together they built a family with their three children, Sherrie Lee (Randy) of Manteca, California; Doug Vaughn (Yvonne) of Franklin, Tennessee; and Cheryl Nelson (Roger) of Riverbank, California. He was blessed by the births of his six grandchildren, Renee Madden (John), Courtney Modgling (Kris), Kaitlyn Nelson, Carissa Mendoza (Paul), Robynn Tucker (Chris) and Bryan Vaughn (Katie). Jim is also survived by his sister Jeanette Stewart and brother John Vaughn (Sharon), but was preceded in death by his sister Janet Baker.

Jim was a member of the Church of Christ in Oakdale, California at the time of his passing. He obeyed the gospel in 1961 and was a faithful member of the Escalon Church of Christ and surrounding congregations in the area. For many years, Jim’s business, Vaughn’s Diesel Repair, was well known in Escalon where he serviced farm equipment from all over the valley. Before retiring in 2020, Jim worked as diesel mechanic in his shop for over 40 years. Family was an important part of Jim’s life and he enjoyed spending quality time with his loved ones. Being outdoors also brought him a lot of joy throughout his life. He and Shirley would host annual camping trips with their children and grandchildren up in Pinecrest, California. During his last few camping trips, it was his job to fry the potatoes for hearty breakfasts in a huge cast iron skillet. For many years, he grew a large garden and enjoyed sharing the vegetables from his harvest with those around him. Many will remember Jim for his hard working nature and his willingness to help anywhere he could. He leaves behind precious memories of his funny sayings, sense of humor, and ornery practical jokes.