Max L. Vaughan
August 11, 1928 – April 21, 2024
Max Leigh Vaughan, 95, passed away peacefully on April 21, 2024. Max was born to Henry and Margie Vaughan on August 11, 1928, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Max graduated from Classen High School in 1946, served in the US Army from 1946-48 in the 90th Field Artillery, 25th Division, and attended Harding University from 1948-1952, graduating with a degree in business. While at Harding he met the ‘sweetest and prettiest girl in school’, Doris Okay Storey, whom he promptly married after college on July 8, 1952, at Walnut Church of Christ-Texarkana.
He and Doris went into business opening Vaughan Oil Company, Max Vaughan Distributing Company, and Texas 191 Truck Stop as well as built houses throughout Texarkana as a general contractor. He was a Fina fuel distributor for 50 years.
Max was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Doris, married 68 years; his daughter, Terri L. Vaughan; and his sister, Helen Jean.
He is survived by his son, Tracy, and wife, Gay of Texarkana, TX, and his daughter, Cari Sue Brown of Texarkana, TX. He has three grandchildren, Jayme Vaughan of Silom Springs, AR, Stephen Vaughan, and his wife, Kellin of Texarkana, AR, and Bailey Vaughan of Conway, AR. He has lots of grand and great-grand fur-babies.
Max’s interests varied greatly which allowed him to be creative through so many venues… sports, community, church, business, and family. He was an accomplished athlete who enjoyed baseball, golf, and tennis, winning championships in each sport. He particularly enjoyed coaching the Bakers Little League team from 1966-68.
He was active in his community by serving as Jaycee’s President from 1964-65, on the board of Equalization for Texarkana, TX in the late ’60s, on the Texarkana Zoning Board, the US. Draft Board, Twin City Bank Board, and the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce Board. Some also referenced him as Mr. Northridge, having overseen the building of Northridge Country Club’s (NCC) golf course back nine, three tennis courts for NCC in 1976, and coming back in 1988 to oversee the construction of three additional tennis courts. He also served on the NCC Board of Directors while working hard to build up camaraderie amongst the golfers by serving as NCC MGA event coordinator with lots of fun activities for the group. He was also recognized as one of the longest-standing members of Northridge prior to the club being purchased by private investors.
The church was a big part of Max’s life, growing up Church of Christ in Oklahoma City and being a Harding graduate, he continued his good works by serving on the Harding Development Council, the Walnut Church building committee and being the Walnut landscape supervisor. He truly enjoyed overseeing and coordinating the beautification of the Walnut campus landscape. He created a memorial dedication program to allow members to honor and memorialize loved ones by purchasing trees or other foliage along with inscribed landscape markers.
He loved his family greatly. He always made family travel fun while making sure all family holiday gatherings were held in his home. He loved Christmas and didn’t want it to end…a small Christmas tree was a staple in the family den until Valentine’s Day each year!
He will be missed by so many. We thank everyone in Texarkana who took care of ‘Mr. Max’. He was a huge patron of Waffle House, Golden Chick, MooYah, Dixie Diner, and Sue & Carol’s. Thank you to Melinda Schaffers, who helped take care of him after mom passed; the neighbors, the Strate’s and Fomby’s, who watched out for him; all of the doctors and nurses at Collom & Carney along with Enhabit Home Health who took all of our calls; and the kindness shown to us for a brief stay at Hospice of Texarkana. We could fill column after column with all of the businesses and people who were special to Mr. Max. One special thank you to the entire team of guardian angels of whom God sent each and every day to fly alongside his car as he drove. Bless everyone.
Memorials are welcomed and may be made to Walnut Church of Christ or your favorite animal care facility. (Max watched Dr. Pol every night!)
Visitation will be Friday, April 26, at 9:30 A.M. at Walnut Church of Christ, 2720 Moores Lane, Texarkana, Texas with services immediately following at 10:30 A.M. with Patrick Cannon and John Cannon officiating. Private graveside burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park.
