James Douglas "Doug" Vaughan

January 5, 1925 – January 29, 2025

James Douglas "Doug" Vaughan passed away at home on January 29, 2025. He had recently celebrated his 100th birthday on January 5, 2025, with many of his friends and family. Born in Opelika, Alabama, to Hosea Frederick Vaughan and Eva Mae Wright Vaughan, he lived a long and fruitful life. He began 1st grade at 5 years old in Opelika. The next year because of a move, he attended Beauregard where they had him and several other boys repeat the 1st grade because of his age. The next year he skipped the 2nd grade and moved on to the 3rd. He graduated from Clift High School in Opelika after returning there in the 9th grade. During his Senior year in high school he also drove the school bus!

Although he had a deferment for farming during WWII, he chose to join the Army Air Corps and qualified for pilot training. He went to B29 Flight Engineer School in Amarillo, TX. The war ended before he was deployed, and he was discharged November 7, 1945. He moved back home to Opelika and was a mechanic and a substitute mail carrier until he joined the FBI and moved to Washington DC in 1946. He worked days and went to night school at Ben Franklin University studying Accounting and Law. On long weekends, he hitchhiked home to see his then girlfriend, Bette Ann Moore, and returned to DC on the train. He and Bette married on June 25, 1948, right after she graduated high school. She was the love of his life. They moved to DC for about three months before returning to Opelika where he took a job as a mail carrier with the Opelika Post Office. Together they raised three daughters and were married 72 years until her death in April of 2021. He retired after 30 years of service with the Postal Service. He was an active member of the Opelika Kiwanis Club and was a member of First Methodist Church in Opelika.

Lovingly known as Daddy or PaPa, he had a wonderful sense of humor and loved playing games. He and Bette were avid Bridge players, and they were both ruthless at Dominoes. His family was dear to him and he loved nothing better than having everyone around him at home, listening to his many interesting and often funny stories of a life well lived. If you took a ride with him in the car, he could tell you stories about almost every house and property in Lee County and beyond.

He is preceded in death by his parents, seven siblings, two daughters, Anne Norman and her husband, Jim, and Nancy Myers.

He is survived by his daughter, Joy Bowles; grandchildren, David Norman, Andrew Myers (Heather Hardison), Anna Myers (Jimmy Cook), Jared Bowles, and Carly Marken (Michael); great grandchildren Archer Bowles and Josie Marken; and son-in-law, Tom Myers.

Visitation will be held at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home on Monday, February 3, 2025, at 10:00AM, followed by a funeral service at 11:30AM in the Chapel and a graveside service at Rosemere Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Methodist Church of Opelika or a charity of your choice.

Frederick-Dean Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.