Barb A. Vaughn

Barbara Alice Vaughn- Born February 3, 1947, to Rita (Gilles) and Charles Vaughn. Deceased June 26, 2024, at the age of 77. In her later years, as her health failed, she was cared for lovingly by her sister, Kathy. She is survived by brother James Vaughn (Linda), and sister Kathy Masterson (James) and sister-in law Judy and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Charles Vaughn.

Barb may not have been a mother, but she had more children than any other woman. She may not have had a spouse, but she had many loves in her life. She may not have been employed as an artist, but she loved to create.

Even though she did not have any biological children, she chose to devote her life to educating children from preschool through high school. She started at Glen Oak High School as a physical education teacher when it opened in 1969. She loved her students and her school very much. She coached the tennis team for many years. She continued to teach when the school merged with and became Gilmour Academy. When she retired after 42 years, she was honored with a reception as the longest serving teacher to date.

In addition to the children that she taught at school, she had many nieces and nephews and even more grand-nieces and nephews after that. She loved them all dearly and admired their accomplishments as they grew. She enjoyed taking them all on adventures that included road trips to Florida and Wisconsin in the early years. Later, she celebrated milestone birthdays with many of the extended family in Walt Disney World (her favorite place on Earth) She was more like a mother than an aunt, except she was the kind that would take you out for French fries and chicken fingers at Steak and Shake instead of making you eat broccoli.

Barb loved her family, her church family at Our Lady Chapel, baking, watching soap operas, fancy cars (especially her MG), her cats, the Muppet Movie soundtrack, teddy bears, diet coke, tennis, and photography. 

Barb was an amazing tennis player. She won many tournaments and club championships in her younger years. She played into her 70’s and regularly beat her nieces and nephews too.

She was creative. She loved photography. In her early years, she took many pictures of sunsets and nature. She had her own dark room and developed her own pictures.

She loved making things. She worked with her father making frames for her beautiful photographs. She crafted ornaments, calendars, and t-shirts. She loved to bake. She was famous for her blueberry buckle and raspberry cheesecake coffee cake. She loved to make Christmas cookies and hand-dip chocolates with the Masterson girls every year. No road trip was complete unless she made her special GORP recipe.

Barb will be fondly remembered by her entire family. She was a wonderful member of the community and gave her time to help those who needed her. She will be missed. But she will not be forgotten as she has made a mark on all who knew and loved her.

Private Inurnment All Souls Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to meet for Mass of Christian Burial 10 am Saturday, July 13 at Our Lady Chapel on the campus of Gilmour Academy, 2045 SOM Center Rd, Gates Mills 44040. Immediately following Mass, the family will host a reception on the school grounds.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the American Diabetes Association.

ARRANGEMENTS BY FIORITTO FUNERAL SERVICE OF NORTHEAST OHIO www.FiorittoFS.com