Vaughan_Lionel_4 January, 1909
George Lionel Albert Vaughan, our loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, returned to his Heavenly Father on Friday, January 17, 1997 shortly after his 88th birthday.
He was born January 4, 1909 in Smithfield, Utah, to Charles Gilbert and Sarah Elizabeth Vaughan. At age 5, Lionel moved with his parents to a family farm near Arimo, Idaho. He received his education in the Arimo and Lava Hot Springs schools.
He married Nona Aleatha Burrup during 1933 in the Logan, Utah LDS Temple. He was later a widower.
Lionel married his life’s companion, Orba LaRue Dryer on November 8, 1947, and together they reared their boys – Thayne Vaughan, George Dryer and Eugene Vaughan, in Downey, Idaho. They family unit had bonded in closeness and love throughout the past 49 years.
Lionel was the custodian of the Downey schools, and was a school bus driver for more than 29 years. At age 62 he embarked on his second career as the local valley plumber. He continued plumbing until just before his 82nd birthday.
Lionel will always be remembered for his great love of people. His life was dedicated to helping others, and he leaves a legacy of loving memories to all those who met or knew him. Lionel taught his boys to work, hunt, fish, and appreciate the Lord’s goodness.
He enjoyed playing his violin, tenor and also saxophones, and organ by the hours. He was blessed with a musical gift of hearing a song just once, and then playing it beautifully by ear.
Lionel and Orba enjoyed visiting their families all over the United States, and their grandchildren beamed with excitement every time they saw Grandma and Grandpa pull up in their motor home. Lionel served many years in the Downey Lions Club and at the Senior Citizens’ Center.
Lionel will always be loved, remembered and greatly missed by his devoted wife, Orba; his sons, Thayne G. Vaughan (wife DiAnn), of Great Falls, Montana, George L. Dryer (wife Sondra Sue), of Bountiful, Utah, and Lionel Eugene (wife RoseAnn), of Arimo, Idaho; his 14 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nona, daughter Mary Jo, parents, and five brothers and one sister.
Funeral services will be noon Wednesday on January 22, in the Downey LDS Second Ward Chapel. Friends may call at Horsley’s Marsh Valley Funeral Home, 570 N. Meadowview Drive, Arimo, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Wednesday at the church from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. prior to the services. Interment will be in the Downey Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial contribution to either the Downey Lions Club or Downey Senior Citizens’ Center, if desired.