JoAnn (Hunnicutt) Vaughn

Born is Los Angeles, CA to Eddie and Leah (Grubby) Hunnicut, JoAnn Vaughn was the older of two daughters. She and Gayle grew up under the California sun with their dog Lucky and cat Kitty Boy. JoAnn graduated from John Muir High School in 1959, and carried with her lifelong friends. She attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman where she earned her BA in English in 1963. She looked back fondly on her time in Chi Omega sorority where she enjoyed a very active social calendar. It was during her time at Chi Omega that she met a handsome Sigma Nu named Byron A. Vaughn. Upon graduation, JoAnn enrolled in the American Airlines Stewardess school, and flew for a few years. During this time, she and Byron were married and moved to Pasadena, TX. In 1964 they welcomed Byron “Scott” Vaughn, followed by Steve Edward Vaughn in 1967. She then attended San Jacinto College where she became a registered nurse. The family moved to Arlington for Byron’s job, then JoAnn moved to Dallas with the boys when she and Byron divorced. JoAnn found herself a single mom of two feral boys. They know what they did. The Vaughn boys remember their adventurous years growing up in the Lake Highlands area of north Dallas and White Rock Lake with their mom. While she could put the fear of God into them, she always showed up when they needed her and told them how much she loved them. Scott remembers she could hear any noise, and they couldn’t get away with much of their late night shenanigans. As the mom of 2 teenage boys, resilient is a word that perfectly describes JoAnn. This fact became apparent in 1982 when she was in a terrible accident. Not expected to walk or work if she made it, JoAnn came out of the hospital by sheer power of will. She walked, she drove, she worked, and she returned to life as usual. Her sons learned from her two of their biggest life lessons: surround yourself with a strong support system, and make the most of whatever situation you are given. JoAnn enjoyed a full social calendar with lifelong friends she collected along the way like Jill, Lenny, and Olive. She worked various interesting jobs, as a nurse, a drug rep, and health teacher in a south Dallas high school. She moved to Marina Del Rey, CA in 1988 where she worked at the Bosley clinic before returning to Dallas in 1996. Her life purpose was renewed with the birth of Scott’s son and her only grandchild, Parker. She doted on her “Parker Bear” and was always in attendance at his ball games, watching him tackle kids well out of bounds. JoAnn returned to Norman in 2004, and worked at the Sam Noble Museum of Art. She adopted her beloved shepherd, Bear—who she undoubtedly loved almost as much as his namesake, Parker Bear. With several photo albums filled with pictures of botanical gardens and her own luscious yards, her love of flowers is clear. JoAnn was a master gardener and could revive any plant on the brink of death. She is also known for her love of dogs over the years. She could tell you about all of them. She would share her adoration of dogs, telling everyone “Dog” is “God” spelled backwards. JoAnn never missed a birthday with the traditions she started of dinner at Benihana and Baskin Robbins ice cream cake. Steve vehemently adheres to the ice cream cake tradition. She loved the Wizard of Oz and Gone With The Wind. She cooked memorable meals like chicken enchiladas, sweet and sour chicken, chop suey, and chili with beans. She is remembered for her lemon meringue pie and strawberry cream pie with toasted almond slices lining the bottom of the crust. She was beautiful, outgoing, and funny. She loved to laugh, and her smile will not soon be forgotten. She was strong, independent, and unanimously described as stubborn. She was indomitable. She fiercely poured her love into first her sons, then her grandson. There was so much in her 83 years that made JoAnn Hunnicutt Vaughn who she was. She will be remembered by her sons, Scott (Lorrie) and Steve (Sarah), and her beloved grandson Parker. JoAnn’s story is now a part of ours, and we will honor it by living our lives with the same love and courage she showed us.

JoAnn (Hunnicutt) Vaughn

February 18, 1942 - January 1, 2026