Sarah Belle “Sadie” Wilkinson Vaughn

Funeral services for Sarah Belle “Sadie” Wilkinson Vaughn will be Thursday, March 31, 2016 at Worden United Methodist Church. Visitation will be at 1:00 p.m. followed by the service at 2:00 p.m. Private burial will be in Worden Cemetery.

Sarah passed away March 26, 2016 at Neuvant House in Lawrence, Kansas.

Sarah was born September 1, 1926 in Parsons, Kansas, the daughter of Frank W. and Esther E. Wilkinson. She was a 1944 graduate of Parsons High School and then entered nurses training as a U.S. Government Army Service Cadet at Bell Memorial Hospital (soon after renamed the University of Kansas Medical Center) in Kansas City, Kansas. After her graduation in 1947, she continued to work at the KU Medical Center for two years as head nurse in the Children’s Orthopedic Ward. She married Gilbert R. Vaughn on March 29, 1949 at St. Johns Episcopal Church in Parsons. She moved to Lawrence and worked 2 years as a pediatrics office nurse located over the Crown Drug Store for Dr. Mary Boyden, Dr. Helen Gilles, and Dr. James Campbell. She returned to work after her two sons, Michael A. and Bruce E. Vaughn were in Junior High School. During that time she was a CUB Scout den mother active in the Schwegler Elementary School PTA including being the president. She became a school nurse for 2 years as part of a federal Poverty Program grant. Sarah then worked for Dr. Helen Gilles, Dr. Vernon Branson and later Dr. Chuck Loveland, and Dr. Terry Riordan, as head nurse and office manager until her retirement in 1983.

Sarah was a member of many organizations and served actively holding leadership positions in several. Those organizations include University of Kansas Alumni and Nurses Alumni Gold Metal Clubs, Order of the Eastern Star and the Order of the White Shrine (Lifetime), Central EHU, Volunteer at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Clinton Historical Society, Kaw Valley Quilters, Chipperfield Home Owners Association, and Worden United Methodist Women and Treasurer of Worden Cemetery.

Survivors include her son Bruce E. Vaughn, Lawrence, KS. Several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert R. Vaughn, her oldest son, Michael A. Vaughn, her parents and two brothers Paul N. and Floyd J. Wilkinson.

Sarah enjoyed traveling with her husband and friends, cooking, sewing (many different types and methods), quilting and knitting as well as reading, watching Kansas University Basketball, dining out with her friends and attending church.

Sarah was always proud of her nursing career and had special feelings about the white uniform they formally wore.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Kansas University Endowment School of Nursing, Worden United Methodist Church, or Visiting Nurses in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.