John Porter Vaughn was born in Columbus, MS on Feb. 11, 1936, to the late William Vivian Vaughn and Ruby Ione McGuire Vaughn. He went to be with the Lord at Sanctuary Hospice House on Tuesday morning, Sept. 1, 2026. Dr. Vaughn was 90 years old. John moved to Tupelo around the 8th grade. He played football and played saxophone in the band at Tupelo High School. He completed his last semester of high school at Itawamba Agricultural High School. John began college at MS Southern (now University of Southern Ms.) where he met Barbara Ann Foreman. They married Aug. 25, 1956, and moved to Atlanta where he completed his BS in Business from University of Georgia. John was in the ROTC and, as a distinguished military graduate, was commissioned in 1958 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army. He was first stationed at Fort Benning, GA where he completed Jump school, then was assigned to Fort Rucker, AL for Fixed Wing Flight School. He later completed Helicopter Transition Training school at Camp Walters, TX where he graduated #1 in his class. He served a 13-month assignment in South Korea where he attained the rank of Captain. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam beginning in Dec. 1966, where he flew both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. John received the Bronze Star for flying over 500 combat hours. His final military service was at Fort Rucker, AL as Flight Commander and Helicopter Instructor Pilot attaining the rank of Major. In 1969, he received a medical discharge. Upon returning home he received his PhD in Educational Psychology from Mississippi State University. The family permanently located in Tupelo where he became the Clinical Director for the McDougal Center. In 1979, John took the position of Clinical Psychologist for NMMC becoming the Director of the Behavioral Health Department until his retirement in 1992. He remained in private practice until 2001.
John’s brother, Bill Vaughn, led him to a profession of faith in 1965. John and Barbara were active members of St. Luke UMC where John taught Sunday School and sang in the choir until prevented by declining health. He and Barbara enjoyed many hobbies including riding motorcycles and traveled over most of the USA, before giving up riding at the age of 70. He was a member of the Christian Motorcycle Club, the Civitan Club and a founding member of the Military Officers Association – Tupelo chapter. He was a longtime member of the St. Luke “Old Geezers Coffee Club”. John’s faith in Christ Jesus remained strong his entire life and he was kind and encouraging to all who knew him.
A Celebration of Life service, with military honors, will take place at 12 noon Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors – Tupelo with Rev. Dr. Amber Lea Gray officiating and Rev. Rob Gill singing. Private family burial will follow in Lee Memorial Park. Visitation will begin at 11 Friday morning and continue until service time. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Live-streaming at Noon and will be archived thereafter.
Dr. Vaughn is survived by his wife of 70 years, Barbara F. Vaughn; 2 daughters – Vivien Boatner (Buck) and Terry Timmons (Greg); one son – John P. Vaughn, Jr. (Catherine); his 7 grandchildren – Misty Elliott (Wally), John P. Vaughn III (Lauren), Wesley Vaughn (Miranda), Allison Roberts (Joe Dan), Blake Timmons (Heather), Brian Boatner (Emily), Stacy Timmons (Esori); his great grandchildren – Hayden Elliott (Sharla), Hayley Riggs (Devin), Hannah Elliott, Hunter Elliott, Porter Vaughn, Lenora Vaughn, Tyler Vaughn-Nicholson (Naomi), Ryder Vaughn, Holden Vaughn, Jude Roberts, Vada Roberts, Lawson Roberts, Vaughn Roberts, Benjamin Boatner, Brett Boatner, Jacob Boatner, Joanna Boatner, Marrianna Timmons, Noal Timmons, and Mateo Timmons; 2 great great grandsons- Turner Elliott and Truen Vaughn-Nicholson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vivian and Ione Vaughn, his brother Bill Vaughn and great granddaughter Marley Sophia Vaughn.
Memorials may be made to Salvation Army or to Sanctuary Hospice House. Condolences may be e-mailed to Holland funeral directors.com/Vaughn obit.
