Vaughan was born on Jan. 8, 1916 in Carson City, Nev., the daughter of a Carson City businessman. Her grandmother was born in a covered wagon near the Humboldt Sink on the way to Carson City, and her grandfather was a hotelman and a blacksmith in the Gold Hill mines.

After graduating from Carson High School in 1933, Vaughan attended Nevada Secretarial School and worked for the state of Nevada. Vaughan moved to the Bay Area soon after that, and during World War II, she worked for Joshua Hendy Iron Works in Sunnyvale. She later worked for the city of Sunnyvale, Westinghouse, Ferry Morse Seed Company and Kemper Insurance. Vaughn was also active in the Sunnyvale Rebekah Lodge, No. 363.

Vaughan lived with her younger sister, Lola, for much of her life. Lola and Vaughan's half-brother Douglas preceded her in death. Vaughan is survived by her nephew, Douglas L. Vaughan of Redwood City, and her sister-in-law, Elinor Vaughan of Los Gatos.