Mary Jo Vaughan

Mary Jo Vaughan, born on November 8, 1931 in Caseyville, Kentucky to Aaron Rudd Heine, and Bernis Elva (Merritt) Heine, passed away from this world into the arms of her Lord Jesus Christ on June 17, 2024 at the Baptist Home of Independence.

She was valedictorian of her high school class in Sturgis, Kentucky. She attended the Welborn Baptist Hospital School of Nursing from 1950 to 1953 receiving her Registered Nurse (RN) license. She later completed college courses at University of Evansville.

Mary ‘Jo’ was married to her husband, Douglas ‘Kelly’ Vaughan, who preceded her in death two days shy of their 66th anniversary. They met on a blind date and were married within six months. They visited all 50 United States, including an Alaskan cruise and multiple trips to Hawaii.

She worked at Welborn Baptist Hospital in Evansville, Indiana as a surgical nurse for 20 years from 1971 to 1991. After moving to Kansas City in 1993, she worked at Park Lane Hospital, Hoechst Marion Roussel in quality control, and as a resident manager at Elliott Place.

Mary Jo was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church in Evansville, IN for over 20 years where she made a public profession of faith and was baptized. She taught a Sunday School class for college students at Vann Avenue Baptist Church in Evansville. She was a member at Kansas City Baptist Temple in Raytown and Grace Baptist Church in Lee’s Summit, MO.

Due to health concerns, they moved with their daughter Lisa to Keller, TX in 2007 and returned to Lee’s Summit, MO in 2017.

Mary Jo leaves behind two children, son Douglas Bryan (Myrna) Vaughan of Lee’s Summit, MO, daughter Lisa Vaughan of Lee’s Summit, MO. She also has two granddaughters, Kristin Joy (Dustin) Smetona of Orange, CA and Alyssa Grace (Robert) Hulme of Oak Grove, MO. She has 6 great-grandchildren: Silas, Elliana, Levi, and William Hulme of Oak Grove, MO and Eli and Emerald Smetona of Orange, CA. She has one surviving brother, James Rudd (Rita) Heine, of Columbus, OH as well as multiple nieces and nephews.

She had four siblings who are deceased: Anna Marian ‘Cotton’ Owen of Caseyville, KY, Betty ‘June’ Shockley of Louisville, KY, William Heine of Mountain Home, AR, and Sarah Lou Voris of Hopkinsville, KY.