MARY ELLEN VAUGHN

Wasilla resident, Mary Ellen (Weddell) Vaughn, 56, passed away Nov. 22 at home from a terminal lung disease.

Mary was born Feb. 18 1953 in Wagner, S.D., to Benjamin and Hazel Weddell.

Mary attended Marty Mission Boarding School. She later earned her GED. She attended Greenwood Presbyterian Church in Wagner. She was also a member of the Ihanktonwon (Yankton Sioux) Tribe.

Mary moved to Alaska in 1981. She worked hard for her family at such places as the Valley Country Store, The Brentwood Post Office and the Wasilla Fred Meyer. She was employed at Fred Meyer for eight years, spanning from 2001 to 2009. While working there she received many customer service recognition “gold star” awards. Some of Mary’s hobbies included baking, photography, gardening and spending time with her family.

Her family said, “Mary was the most selfless, caring and honest person we’ve had to grace our lives. She touched many hearts. She was a great sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She will be greatly missed and impossible to forget.”

Mary is survived by here ex-husband Jimmy Vaughn of Anchorage, daughters, Kathy Jacobsen of Wasilla, Misty and (Tyker) Guenther of Wasilla, Theresa Vaughn (Ron Weekley) of Anchorage, Jamie (Ryan) Friesen of Wasilla, grandchildren, Sabrina Plummer (Terris Phelps), Marcus Plummer, James Langendorf, Makenzie Langendorf, Triniti Weekley, Whisper Friesen, Sloan Weekley, Paris Friesen, Ryder Friesen, great-grandson Tysen Phelps, sisters, Dorothy (Gordon) Fritz, Shirly (Larry) Wymore, Marilyn Berrios, Margaret (Frank) Forman, Eva (Max) Eads, Rose Weddell, and Carole (Guy) Zephier; brothers, William (Lois) Weddell, Larry Weddell, Tim (Cyndi) Weddell, Rodney Weddell and Michael (Lisa) Weddell and beloved partner, Gerald Clinton Jefferys.

She was preceded in death by her father, Benjamin R. Weddell, mother, Hazel Mae (Gullickson) Weddell, sister, Betty Rae Turner, brother, Benjamin R. (Sonny) Weddell and dear family friend “Aunt Hattie” Topkok.

There will be a memorial service held at Mary’s home, 4301 S. Loussac Lane in Wasilla on Sunday at 2 p.m. Mary will then be brought home and laid to rest at the feet of her mother at the Presbyterian Cemetery in rural Greenwood S.D.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research at www.stopsarcoidosis.org, in hopes of one day having an answer.