Vonda Marie Vaughn Obituary (1940

Vonda Marie Jensen Vaughn was born October 11, 1940 to LeVawn Findlay and Marie Cook Jensen in Blackfoot, Idaho. She passed away on January 4, 2018 surrounded by her loving family. Mom attended schools in Idaho Falls, graduating in May of 1959. A story I remember about my mom is her getting in trouble for driving her car, an Isetta, down the high school hallway. She thought it funny, but GeeGee and Grandpa did not! She met our father, the love of her life while a Senior in high school. She was not impressed at first because of the things she saw him do like getting a puppy drunk, throwing snow at her (although she got even by shoveling snow in the car on him). She told him to quit drinking and go to church. Needless to say their romantic courtship was short. They were engaged on April 17, 1959 and were married on June 26 of that same year. They have been married for almost 59 years. Dad says their first date was to the movies. Mom always talked about a beautiful honeymoon to Niagara Falls. Our father, Jay Russell Vaughn, was working in Arco for the INEL at the time. Their oldest son, Murray Jay, was born in Idaho Falls on September 11, 1960. They were later transferred to Virginia where their second child, Tracy Michell, was born at Ft. Monroe, July 5, 1962. I was told my mother was watching Dick Tracy....and decided to name the newborn Tracy! We lived in a trailer home that they pulled out there from Idaho. We moved back to Idaho for a short time and it was during that time that mom and dad were sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Father was transferred to South Carolina and a third child blessed the family, Daniel LeVawn, born in Charleston on July 8, 1965. They eventually settled in San Diego, California where another son, Paul Jaime, was born April 21, 1968 and then finally on July 30, 1989, Tracy got her long-awaited sister, Lynne Marie. The story that is told is Tracy's dad told her she had another brother and Tracy said to send him back! "I threw one heck of a temper tantrum and dad had to take me to my mom so that she could prove to me I had a sister! And I got to keep her!" (Our mom was in an accident with us while pregnant with Lynne. We were so thankful that she and my unborn sister survived.) And to grandma Jensen's joy, the best birthday present ever! While in San Diego, for a time, the four younger siblings went to the same school and Vonda worked as a librarian at Encanto Elementary, where they all attended-pre-school thru 6th grade. They moved to Idaho the summer of 1975. Jay stayed in California, stationed in San Francisco for one more year before retiring. Vonda worked for Meals on Wheels for 15 years before she retired. In 1972 Vonda and the other military wives were able to go to Hong Kong for a much needed vacation with their husbands. Vonda and Jay served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Friendship, Wisconsin. It was said to be one of the most enjoyable and special times of their lives. They made many dear friendships that have stayed close even to this day. When their first grandchild, Jalynne, was born, they became very loving grandparents. Paul and his family lived in Oregon and Lynne and her family lived in Nevada. They took several enjoyable trips to see each new baby when they were born and again when they were baptized. Our mother had a very strong testimony of the church and for that we are thankful. Through her strong prayers and dad's blessings we have always been protected. We love and miss mom so very much. Vonda is survived by her husband of over 59 years Jay Russell; her children and their families: Murray Jay (June) her children Amber and Marilyn and their families. Tracy Michelle and her children: Mikaela, Dakota (Destiny) and their son Elijah, Daniel LeVawn (Lana) and his children Ryan (Lena), Amber and her son Adam, Austin and Autumn, Paul Jaime (Misty) his daughters Jalynne Woodard (Austin) and their daughter Kara, Jennifer Padilla (Juan) and their daughter Makenzie, Stephanie and Heather Lynne Marie and her daughters Brittnee Fromm, Courtnee Morris (Kellen); and her brother James Jensen (Ginny) and his family. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister-in-law Susan Jensen; three grandchildren: Hailee, Dallyn and Mason Fromm. We would like to thank the staff at Kindred for her care these past five years. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 8, at Zeyer Funeral Chapel, 83 N Midland Blvd in Nampa with a viewing from 9:00 to 11:00 prior to the services. 208-467-7300