Mr. Leo Vaughn, Sr., after 88 years with us, transitioned from life to everlasting on Tuesday night, October 6, 2009 from his home in Muskogee.

He was born in Muskogee on December 25, 1920, the son of Oliver and Alee Vaughn. He attended school in Muskogee, graduating from Historic Manual Training High School, where he was nicknamed "Smokey" because of his speed as a running back on the Bulldog Football team.


He went on to Xavier University in New Orleans on a football scholarship, joining his best friend, Leonard Robbins. During his first year, he was a starting running back.

His swiftness on the gridiron was cut short after one year after being called into service in the United States Army, where he served his country honorably from 1942 to 1946. He was a WWII Veteran, serving in Italy with the Infantry Division as a Military Police Officer during the same time as War Hero/Actor Audie Murphy was serving in the 3rd Infantry Division.

After his military service, Mr. Vaughn owned and operated several business, which he began in 1954 with $275.00. He operated a pool hall, Sundry store, Restaurant, Tavern, Retail Liquor Store and Car Wash. In 1974, he built a new Liquor Store and Club LaTreese on North Main Street and remained in business there from 1974 until his retirement. When it was time to close the club each night, his favorite saying was "you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here!"

Mr. Vaughn was thankful to two people "who made it happen" for him. The late Mr. Ora Lamb, President of First National Bank and Mr. John Hannah, Chairman o fthe Board, Citizens Bank. For 56 years, he was never refused a loan and held one of the two oldest retail liquor licenses in Eastern Oklahoma.

In his earlier years, he was a music promoter as part of the "Chittlin Circuit" with four other friends who called themselves the "Progressive Gents." They promoted such entertainers as; Bobby Blue Bland, Johnny Taylor, Ike and Tina Turner Revue, Diana Ross, B.B. King, James Brown and Jackie Wilson. Mr. Vaughn lived a good life and a full life. His sister, Jewel stated in summation of his life, "he worked and made a difference in the community." Individuals who worked for him and wanted to go to college, he made it possible for them to pursue their dreams and whenever they came home for the summer, they knew they always had a job.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Oliver Vaughn and Alee Hubby; a daughter, Kaaron Vaughn; six brothers and sisters, Etta [Vaughn] Thompson, Oliver [Sonny], Henry, Edna Jenkins, Earl [Pappy], and Wilbur Jenkins; a granddaughter, Latreece Lowless and a great-grandson, Leo Vaughn, IV.

Remaining to lament his death; his wife of 65 years, Sarah Lee McElroy; 3 daughters, Toian Vaughn and Gina Vaughn, Brookeville, Maryland and Demetta Vaughn, Fayetteville, Georgia; 3 sons, Leo Vaughn, Jr., Scott Anthony Vaughn and Oliver Douglas Vaughn, all of Muskogee; a sister, Jewel Annie [Vaughn] Mures, Muskogee; a brother, Carl Westbrook, Wichita, Kansas; 9 grandchildren; and a caravan of other relatives and friends.

The final hour with Mr. Vaughn will be on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. in the most sacred sanctuary of the Grace Episcopal Church. Reverend Jenny L. Pratt, Officiant. The Christian committal will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.

You may visit Mr. Vaughn, as he slumbers in peaceful repose at the funeral home in Muskogee on Monday from 12 Noon to 7 PM.