Melva Kay Vaughan, known simply as “Kay” to her many friends and loved ones, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. Surrounded by her devoted husband and children, Kay was 86 years old and a lifelong beacon of compassion, wisdom, and warmth.
She went by many names throughout her life: Mom, Mama, Mother, Aunt Kay, Mrs. Vaughan, but the one name she rarely used was Melva. To everyone who knew her, she was always just Kay—a name that reflected her easygoing grace, friendly spirit, and the deep affection so many felt for her.
Born in Carthage, Missouri on January 24, 1939, to Carl W. Chapman and Martha DeGan Chapman, Kay’s life was a rich tapestry of love, learning, and community spirit. She grew up in a loving family in Avilla, Missouri. A proud graduate of Carthage High School’s Class of 1956, Kay continued her studies at Southwest Baptist College before earning her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Southwest Missouri State College (now Missouri State University) where she was the feature baton twirler with the college marching-band. Teaching was not just her profession—it was her calling. Kay began her career as a public-school teacher and loved the opportunity to teach in the brand-new Head Start program in the summer of 1965. She went on to teach at St. Anthony’s Preschool from 1975-1981 and then served countless students as a beloved fifth and sixth grade teacher at Columbian Elementary School until her retirement in 2002. Even after retirement, she returned to the classroom for over 15 years as a respected and enthusiastic substitute teacher. Her dedication to educational excellence and nurturing young minds left a lasting imprint on the Carthage community.
On August 18, 1962, Kay married the love of her life, Bruce Allen Vaughan Jr., at the First United Methodist Church in Carthage. Together, they built a joyful life filled with laughter, adventure, and deep family roots. Their marriage of 63 years was a true partnership—filled with family camping trips, national and international travel adventures to places like Williamsburg, Washington, D.C., the Philippines, Alaska, Canada, Japan, and even a trip to Acapulco, along with countless evenings around a campfire surrounded by their children and grandchildren. Though Bruce may have been the family’s grill master, the heart of their home was Kay’s kitchen, where her ranger cookies, chicken and noodles, and famous buttermilk brownies were the centerpiece of many a gathering.
Kay was as committed to community as she was to her family. She was a proud and active member of Chapter AP of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, achieving Golden Girl status after more than 60 years of membership. She also championed education with her work on the Carthage Class of 1956 Scholarship Committee and through her involvement in the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA). A lifelong learner herself, she was an avid reader and member of the Mimosa Garden Club. Kay cherished the friends and fellowship of groups like the Friday Night Movie Group, Tuesday Night Dinner Club, and the Birthday Girls monthly luncheons.
Kay’s influence extended far beyond the classroom and community circles. She served as a den mother for Cub Scouts Pack 9, encouraging many boys on their path to Eagle Scout, and was a devoted summer swim team mom. She also supported vulnerable children through the Jasper County Child Welfare Committee. Kay was a motivator to her students, a mentor to her fellow teachers, and a steady, listening presence to her family and friends. Service to others was her quiet strength—never done for recognition, always offered with sincerity.
Her greatest joy was her family. Kay is survived by her beloved husband Bruce; her three children: Martha “Marti” Sewester (husband Bill) of Wichita, Kansas; Allen Vaughan (wife Joy) of Newport, Rhode Island; and Suzanne Vaughan (husband Jay Goff) of Washington, D.C. She was a proud grandmother to Kathryne Sewester of Oahu, Hawaii; Hannah Sewester (fiancé Alex Lechtenberg) of Phoenix, Arizona; Timothy Vaughan of Los Angeles; Joshua Vaughan of Murrieta California; Mia Goff of Alexandria, Virginia; and Vaughan Goff of Washington DC. She is also survived by her sister, Carol Chapman Taylor of Prairie Village, Kansas, and a wide circle of extended family and friends who affectionately called her “Aunt Kay,” a name she wore with pride and love.
Kay lived a purposeful life filled with kindness, service, and celebration. She loved deeply, listened intently, and encouraged generously. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, whether through a lesson in the classroom, a home-cooked meal, a kind word of encouragement, or a scholarship given to a student with big dreams.
Kay Vaughan will be deeply missed. But her gentle, joyful, and resolutely kind spirit will live on in every classroom, every act of quiet service, every cherished memory, and every family gathering where her recipes are still served and her stories are told.
A memorial service celebrating Kay’s beautiful life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, August 18, 2025, at the First United Methodist Church in Carthage. Burial will follow at the Avilla Cemetery in Avilla, Missouri. Friends and loved ones are invited to visit with the family from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 17, at Knell Mortuary in Carthage. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts be made to the Carthage R-9 School Foundation for the Fine and Performing Arts Center or the Scholarship Program, in care of Knell Mortuary. Online condolences may be shared at www.knellmortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Knell Mortuary.
