Harold Vaughan

Harold Dean Vaughan, son of the late Lester and Pauline (Atchison) Vaughan, was born April 21, 1943, in Douglas County, Missouri, in the Fox Creek area on his grandfather’s farm. He departed this life on July 5, 2026, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, surrounded by his children. He was 83 years, 2 months, and 14 days of age.

Harold grew up in Norwood, Missouri, where he attended school. He graduated from Norwood High School with the class of 1961. Harold was a talented athlete, and during his high school years, he excelled in all sports. He especially loved playing baseball and basketball. If you ever talked to Harold about sports, he would say his teams were some of the best in Norwood history. (His boys say, “Just ask Duane Forrest.”).

Harold moved to Kansas City, where he worked for the Sunshine Biscuit Company for a while. He then worked several years at Ideal Body Shop Repair, which was owned by the Gassaway family.

Harold enlisted in the military and served with the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War from June 1966 to January 1970. After serving his country, he returned to the Norwood community, where he used his love of sports to help build the Little League program, and he also served on the Norwood School Board for many years.

On February 23, 1974, Harold was united in marriage to Leah Bradshaw. Three sons, Ryan, Mark, and Clint, were born of this union. Together they raised their boys on Harold’s family farm, farming and raising cows for many years. During this time, Harold began operating an agricultural spreading truck with his father, hauling lime and fertilizer, and supplying farmers and road construction companies with needed products. He also operated a rural farm milk route and large tank milk transports. Harold started working for Roadway in the early 1990s and retired from there in 2008. Harold enjoyed his retirement years. You would often find him golfing or watching his grandchildren play in all their sporting events.

Harold enjoyed being involved in his sons’ athletic events, from the time he started coaching them in Little League and then through their high school and college years. In his younger years, Harold enjoyed playing fast-pitch softball, bowling, and Town Team basketball.

Besides his parents, Harold was preceded in death by an infant brother, his sister, Jeanne Hammack, and a niece, Michelle Lyon.

He is survived by his three sons, Ryan Vaughan and his wife, Melinda, of Norwood, Mark Vaughan of Mountain Grove, Missouri, and Clint Vaughan and his wife, Melissa, of Norwood; his grandchildren, Cooper, Carson, Morgan, Gaven, Drew, Riley, Brady, and Bentley; the mother of his children, Leah Vaughan of Mansfield, Missouri; a niece, Andrea and her husband, Dan; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to Oak Forest Cemetery or Norwood Athletic Boosters in care of the funeral home.