Ronald Gray Vaughn died peacefully on Friday, August 6, 2021, at Regency Retirement Village in Huntsville. The fifth-generation farmer was 85 and beloved by his large family. He was born at home on Old Monrovia Road to Carl and Helen Vaughn. He was the third of four children in a family comprised of extended Vaughn and Garner families in the Monrovia community. Ron – who also went by Ronald, Ronald Gray or R.G. – was the valedictorian of the Monrovia High School graduating class of 1954. He married Ann Carol Fanning, also of Monrovia, on June 22, 1957. The couple honeymooned in Gatlinburg, Tennessee – a place they would visit annually for the rest of their lives.
Ron was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1958 and set sail for Germany in April 1959 as an artillery surveyor. He was stationed in Schweinfurt, where Ann joined him and where the couple welcomed their first child, Ronald Gray Vaughn II (Rex). The trio returned in 1960 to Monrovia, where Ron resumed farming and growing a family of six with Ann. He was a family man through and through – and also an Auburn man who put four children through college and graduate school.
Ron’s farm operation included livestock and row crops, but his particular loves were cattle and cotton. He made countless trips to the Cullman Stockyard and also participated in farm tours across North America. Ron enjoyed traveling to visit children and grandchildren far and wide over the years, even as he and Ann welcomed many international students and families into their home and to the farm.
Before his Parkinson’s disease progressed, he was an active member of Providence Baptist Church and, recently, a faithful viewer of First Baptist Huntsville’s TV ministry. Other business and community involvements included Monrovia Men’s Club, Madison County Farmers Federation, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, board chair of the Gold Kist Farmers Mutual Exchange, and founding member of Jeff Gin Company. He and Ann were also part of a Rook club that played monthly for 30 years.
He is survived by his wife; Ann Carol Fanning Vaughn; children; Ronald (Rex) Gray Vaughn II (Kim); Ronda Ann Vaughn West (Randy); Carol Ann Vaughn Cross (Jonathan); and Clifford Jeffries Vaughn (Mary); grandchildren; Carmen Vaughn Bragg (Sean); Hannah Vaughn Creed (Kaze); Ellie Makena Vaughn; Carl Walton Vaughn; Anna Grayce West Smith (Drew); Clara Christine West Posala (Carleone); Jonathan Samuel Cross, Jr.; Sydney Elizabeth Cross; Jackson Gray Vaughn; and Madeline Ann Vaughn; great-grandsons; Gray Michael Bragg; Graham Denton Bragg; and Porter Barnes Smith, with two more great-grandchildren due this fall.
He is also survived by his sister; Virginia Vaughn Erwin (Bob); sister-in-law; Gladys H. Vaughn; brother-in-law; Paul W. Fanning (Dee); and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son, Carl Walton Vaughn (Walt); parents; Carl and Helen Vaughn; brothers; William C. Vaughn and Henry G. Vaughn; and mother and father-in-law; Mildred and C.W. Fanning.
The family is grateful to Amy Chaiyaton, Malorie Johns and the entire staff at both Regency Retirement Village and Hospice of North Alabama.
Visitation will be Monday, August 9 at Providence Baptist Church at 1355 Douglass Road at 9:45 a.m. with funeral to follow immediately at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens. Rev. Dr. Blair Waddell and Rev. Brian Milby will conduct the services. Pallbearers will be Sean Bragg, Kaze Creed, Sam Cross, Cole Milby, Carleone Posala, Drew Smith, Jack Vaughn and Walton Vaughn. Berryhill Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Providence Baptist Church Building Fund at providencebaptist.us/giving, or to Hospice of North Alabama at hospiceofnorthalabama.com/donate.
