William B. Vaught Jr.

Bill was born July 19, 1928 in Kansas City, MO. Bill was the first child of Burrell and Zola Vaught. He has a sister named Martha Ann Young.

Bill attended Ruskin High School and graduated in 1946. As a young boy, he worked long hours on his parents five acres on Garner Avenue in Grandview, MO. They grew asparagus, strawberries, raspberries and cherries. In season, it was not unusual for them and their help to pick 15-20 (24 quart crates) of strawberries and raspberries in a day. In later years, gardening was Bill's hobby, and he was very successful in growing things. Bill has grown a strawberry bed every year since he was eight years old.

At age 18, he married and later had four children, John, David, Pamela and Susan. In his 20's, he went to work for General Services Administration where he advanced to a contracting officer for government service contracts in North and South Dakota, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. He worked at the old government complex at 95th and Bannister Road.

In 1969, he embarked on a new career in life insurance sales. He soon became a licensed security representative for the firm Securities Management and Research, a subsidiary of American National Insurance Company. He led the company in mutual fund sales for years and received many recognitions and leadership awards until eventually moving on after several years to a larger broker-dealer. He became a very successful financial planner for over forty years handling millions of dollars in many clients' accounts. Bill sold his business to an associate and retired in 2008.

In 1976, he married Betty Packham and they enjoyed their relationship for many years until her death in April, 2014.

Bill was a Master Mason having joined the Grandview Lodge in 1950 at age 22, while his father was Worshipful Master installed at that time by Harry S. Truman, our former president. He recently received a pin for 60 years of service.

Bill was very interested in Science and the various things science has now proven and he was a committed Christian as well. He belonged to the Holmeswood Baptist Church.

He is survived by his four children and 11 grandchildren.

He was very appreciative of Shirley Otis who helped him in his later years to remain in his home instead of assisted living or some other care.