Marilyn Kay Vaughn

On Friday, April 2^nd, 2021, Marilyn Kay Vaughn passed away at the age of 72.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 10th, at Sioux City First Church, 4420 Cheyenne Blvd. A visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 9th at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, 6200 Morningside Ave. Marilyn’s favorite flowers were daisies, and her favorite color was orange. The family encourages you to wear yellow or orange to celebrate her entrance into heaven.

Marilyn was born on August 3, 1948, in Sioux City, IA, to John Tate and Elsa May (Cassel) Ross. Marilyn graduated from Central High School in 1967. On May 3, 1968, she married Michael William Vaughn of Anthon, IA. They raised two daughters, Tammie and Kristan.

Marilyn worked various jobs over the years - babysitting, farm wife, waitress, Stockman’s, Aalfs Manufacturing, and ended her career at Walmart for the last 27 years. At Walmart, she became a fabrics and crafts manager and spent her final years as a Human Resources Administrator. She made many friends at Walmart over the years.

Marilyn taught herself to sew while a farm wife. She made her daughters several unique outfits and formal dresses over the years. When Kristan joined Sioux City East High Show Choir, she told the directors, “My mom can help sew.” This led to eleven years of helping these teens with fittings, alterations, and new outfit construction. Once again, Marilyn made many lifelong friends while sewing at East High. Several times she also did alterations for girls’ prom dresses and wedding dresses, making sure they looked perfect for their big day.  

Marilyn started making quilts in her retirement years. Many hours of painstaking patience produced beautiful quilts and table runners. Her husband, both daughters, three grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends received a quilted masterpiece.

Besides being a mother to two daughters and three grandchildren, Marilyn was a leader, teacher, and mentor to many children and youth in her lifetime. While living in Anthon, IA, she and Mick were Methodist Youth Fellowship leaders. When they moved to Sloan, IA they were Sunday school teachers. When they came to Sioux City Morningside Assembly of God, Marilyn got involved with the “Missionettes” program. For 39 years, she and several other leaders, with whom she became lifelong friends, taught youth girls bible study, proper behavior, and foundational principles to have a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ.

Her greatest love was watching her grandchildren perform in activities at school, church, and other organizations. She was very proud of all their achievements.

She is survived by her husband, Mick, her children Tammie Vaughn and Kristan (Jason) Geary, her brothers, David (Peggy) Ross, and Roger (Jane) Ross and her grandchildren, Emma, Benjamin, and Adysson, and many brothers and sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her mother, father, and son-in-law Joseph Simonson (Tammie).