Thomas B. "Tommy" Vaughn, Jr.

Thomas B. “Tommy” Vaughn, Jr., 55, was born November 1, 1962 at Sewart Air Force Base, Smyrna, TN. Tommy passed from this life January 2, 2018. A Tennessee native and McMinnville resident, he was a member of a military family and traveled widely around the United States and abroad. Tommy graduated from high school in Lexington, VA in 1981. He joined the U.S. Army in 1983, took Basic Combat Training at Ft. Jackson, SC, and remained there for training as an Administrative Specialist, graduating in February 1984. He served two years on active duty, mostly in Germany. His awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, and Sharp Shooter Badge with M16 Rifle Bar. He also served six years in the Army Reserve, including service in Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Japan and Korea. Tommy attended college in Hawaii and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in McMinnville, where he earned his certificate in welding. Tommy worked for a while as a fence builder for Aycock Fence Company and as a long haul commercial truck driver. Welding was his main profession for most of his life, where he took pride in his own work and joy in mentoring and training others to be certified welders like he was. At the time of his demise, he was a loyal employee and certified welder at Morrison Industries in Morrison, TN. Tommy’s hobbies included reading and Scrabble. He also loved the outdoors, especially camping, fishing, horseback riding and Kayaking. He cared deeply for animals large and small. His favorites were dogs and horses. Tommy was preceded in death by his loving and loved mother, Nancy Belle Aycock Vaughn; paternal grandparents, Gertrude Vaughn Grissom and Hamp Grissom; and maternal grandparents, Dave and Clairene Aycock. Tommy is survived by his beloved brother, Lawrence Thayer “Larry” Vaughn; father, Thomas B. Vaughn, Sr., Colonel U.S. Army, Retired; step-mother, Betty Lusk Vaughn; aunt, Doris Carter; step-sisters, Delois Bratcher, Donna Mullican, Doris Stephens and husband Gary Jr.; uncle, David Aycock, cousins, U.S. Navy Captain Adam Aycock and April Bryant and their respective families; as well as loving cousins, Melody Gerow, Stewart Carter, Ge-Anne Bolhuis and Terry Bowdoin; plus many other relatives and friends. A memorial service for Tommy will be held Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. at High Funeral Home in McMinnville. Officiating will be Bro. Tim Lewis, lifelong friend and co-writer Bro. Jack White, and David Grissom. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. the same day. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Warren County Animal Shelter or the Tennessee Fisher House Foundation. Online condolences may be made at www.highfuneralhome.com. High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.