Donald Ross Vaughan

NORTH STRATFORD, NH – Mr. Donald Ross Vaughan, 97, of North Stratford, died peacefully early Sunday morning, May 28, 2006 with his close family at his side. In his long life span, he was rarely ill or disabled. As recently as April 3rd, he had never called an ambulance for health care. A fall led to a back injury and a subsequent heart attack that hospitalized him for eight days, though he resisted. Don related to his close friends that his old ticker had finally gotten the best of him. He always responded with a smile at his caregivers’ kindness and he never complained of pain or discomfort. Mr. Vaughan was born September 27, 1908, in Trout Creek, Michigan, the eldest son of John Cody Vaughan and Ruby (Ross) Vaughan. Donald had an 85-year work history. His first job was picking potato bugs at the age of eight for 5¢ a quart during the summer months in Baraga, Michigan; and during those winter months he ferried the school mistress on a horse-drawn sleigh owned by his grandfather’s livery. He tended the coal stove that heated the school, earning 50¢ per week. In 1920, he graduated from Trout Creek High School as valedictorian in a class of two students. He went on to attend St. Thomas College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he studied bookkeeping and was on the varsity boxing squad. Eventually, Donald was employed as a bookkeeper and log scaler, and he hunted wild game to feed the large crew of lumberjacks. In the ensuing years, he drove trucks and operated large bulldozers and graders. In the mid-1930s, he sought and became camp supervisor for the U.S. Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1944, at the age of 36, Mr. Vaughan enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II, civilian battalion, as a Machinist First Class. He was stationed in Guam, Siapan, and Hawaii, operating graders to build runways in preparation for the invasion of Japan. Following his military service, Donald took on the third-generation family tradition as a band saw filer and fitter, more commonly known as a band saw engineer. Along with his father, uncle, and brother, Donald became a band saw fitter and passed down the family trade in Michigan and several western states. He was frequently called upon to remedy saw mill operations that were experiencing problems. At one time, Donald worked for Ford Motor Co. as head filer in L’Anse, Michigan, sawing lumber that was used to build the classic Ford Woodies. Donald later migrated east to the State of New York, where he worked for several years at Conifer until that mill burned, and he later worked in Carteret, New Jersey, and Riverton, Wyoming, where he was head filer in a large band mill overseeing 8 saw filers. During the 1960s and 70s, Don trained his son, John, to become the most productive band saw man who was able to hold two full time positions filing and fitting at once in Bristol, Vermont. Donald’s grandson, Ross, next started in the trade where he headed west to apprentice under a master. Donald loved to remark that his grandson, Ross, could tig, braise or weld any crippled saw better than anyone in the business. In 1958, Donald decided he wanted an easy retirement job and he came east with his family to work for Washburn Lumber as the only filer, with an agreement that he could take outside work from other band mills in the area. This retirement job lasted until the closing of Washburn Lumber in 1985, but Donald stayed on with Reuben’s new company, WeLog, Inc. Mr. Vaughan stayed on until an economic downturn forced him to become laid off in 2001 at the age of 92. Donald began to actively seek re-employment at the age of 93. In the past few years, Donald has kept himself busy seeking usable firewood from local logging operations, and he loved gardening, picking wild berries for homemade wine, and daily shopping trips all over Coös County seeking a good bargain. He especially loved his hunting trips to Epping with his friend, George Amartides. Donald had become an avid fan of professional basketball, boxing, and Court TV. He was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in North Stratford and a proud member of the Knights of Columbus.He was known to read the local newspapers on a daily basis. Donald made many friends during his long life. He was always true to his word and would labor tirelessly for someone who was sincere and needed his help. He never used profanity and was always level-headed, thoughtful, and tactful in any situation. Those who truly knew him and worked with him will be painfully aware of his absence, especially his good friends and neighbors, David Gaudette, Charlie Goulet, Joe Chase, and Armand Bernard. He will be remembered as a loving husband to his wife, Mary, a devoted father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He is survived by his children, Lynn Kerkes of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Timothy Vaughan of Fort Ann, New York, and William Vaughan of North Stratford; an aunt, Myrtle Ross, 98, of Baraga, Michigan; 17 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, a few great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Mr. Vaughan is preceded in death by his wife, Mary, 84; two sons, John D. Vaughan, 62, and Thomas R. Vaughan, 63; two aunts, Dora Ross, 103, and Tess Vaughan, 100, as well as five siblings. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, June 1, from 5 – 8 p.m. at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook, NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, June 2, 2006, at Noon, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in North Stratford, NH, with The Reverand Daniel Deveau as celebrant. Interment will follow at the Sacred Heart Cemetery with military honors. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook, NH.

Donald Ross Vaughan

September 27, 1908 - May 28, 2006