Willow D. Vaughn

Shelby Shores

Willow D. Vaughn, age 86, passed away Nov. 20, 2013. The Shelby Shores native’s first job was in a cotton mill in Sylacauga. She and her husband, Max L. Vaughn, owned a restaurant in Birmingham before she managed a local Jack’s and later started her own construction company and aluminum siding cleaning business. Her favorite pastimes included fishing, hunting, and spending time with family.

Willow was preceded in death by her husband, Max; her parents, James and Bell White; two sisters, Sally Bell Shoemaker and Linnie Pearl Battles; and three brothers, Corbin White, Reece White and Pete White.

Survivors include two sons, Jimmy Edward Smitherman (Herriette Bell) and Ralph Pruitt Vaughn; two grandchildren, Michelle Smitherman and Tabitha Eve Taylor Hogg (Curtis); one great-granddaughter, Sara Curry, age 16; two great-grandsons, Justin T. Sims and Jonathan B. Sims, both in the U.S. Navy; one brother, Homer White; two sisters-in-law, Jenny White and Vauldeane White; many nieces and nephews; and several neighbors and friends.

The celebration of Willow Vaughn’s Life was Nov. 23 in Ridout’s Southern Heritage Chapel, Pelham. Burial followed in Elliotsville Cemetery, Alabaster. The family requests memorial gifts to the Lakeshore Foundation or to help with Willow’s funeral expenses.