Dortha Dee Vaughan

Dortha Dee Maxey Vaughan, 88, died on March 7, 2010 of complications from a stroke. She was born in Dallas on Aug. 11, 1921 to Everett Logan Maxey and Doris Carswell. Dortha Dee's family moved to Port Arthur when she was a child. She attended Port Arthur schools and Texas State College for Women in Denton before her marriage to Oscar Roger Vaughan on Jan. 31, 1942. They lived at several Army Air Force bases during WWII and returned to Port Arthur after the war. Dortha Dee was bold and brave, intelligent and beautiful. She loved learning and reading, books and poetry. She had a lifelong interest in nutrition and enjoyed cooking. For years she rose at 5:30 a.m. to prepare a gigantic breakfast for her family. She was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Port Arthur and treasured the times she spent on the affairs of the women's association. Other passions included dogs, playing bridge, current affairs and politics. She believed in equal rights for all Americans and was an early member of the Texas Women's Political Caucus. She earned bachelor's and a master's degrees in English from Lamar University in Beaumont and wrote her thesis on Robert Frost. She taught at each of Port Arthur ISD's high schools: Jefferson, Austin and Lincoln, and loved them all. She was preceeded in death by her husband, Roger Vaughan, and her sister, Marilyn Maxey Haven Straker. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Vicki Vaughan and Robert Clare; son, Roger Maxey Vaughan, all of San Antonio; niece Holly Brassington of Wisconsin and nephew Douglas Maxey Haven of Seattle. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Port Arthur Public Library, 4615 9th Ave., 77642. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 11 at Levingston Funeral Home, 5601 39th St., Groves. The funeral service will be held at Levingston at 10 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Margaret Desmond of Trinity Presbyterian Church officiating.Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Lana and Terry Folkenson will hold a reception following the funeral at their home at 4420 Sunken Court, Port Arthur.