Georgie Vaughn, 75, of Spokane

Georgie Ann Cook Vaughn lost her long, courageous battle with colon cancer on July 4, 2012, at the age of 75.

Georgie Ann Cook was born to Edward and Lillie Cook in Eureka, Montana.  She skipped sixth grade and still graduated valedictorian from high school in 1954.  

She married Eugene “Gene” Vaughn in Eureka in September 1954 and lived in a one-room cabin Gene built on Glen Lake.  

They moved to Libby in 1960 with their two children where dad built houses and mom did the business accounting and helped make decisions on fixtures and colors of the spec houses.  

Mom had two more children in Libby.  Mom and dad provided a home for more than 40 foster children and several exchange students between 1966 and 1985 in Libby.  

Sometimes it was just overnight and sometimes it was years.  She was selected Woman of the Year in 1977 by the Kootenai Business and Professional Women (BPW).  She was elected to the School Board in 1982.  

In 1987, Georgie and dad moved to Fallbrook, Calif.  Georgie worked for the U.S. Census Bureau from 1976 until 1998.  She bravely drove the back roads of Montana and the crowded freeways of California mapping and interviewing.  

In 2004, mom and dad moved to Clifton, Ariz., and in 2010 mom moved to Spokane, Wash. 

Georgie was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Gene Vaughn, in 2009; her son, Mark Vaughn, in 2012; her brother, Lincoln Cook, in 1931; and her brother, Dale Cook, in 1986.   

Georgie is survived by a son Paul (Elise) Vaughn; 3 daughters Carolyn “Carrie” (Ashley) Cooper, Stephanie (Alan) Bain, and Sarah (Mark) OBrien; six grandchildren;  Kristi Monroe, William and Bobby Whitsett, Ashley Cooper, and Alison and Leslie OBrien; five great grandchildren; her sister, Esther (Collis) Walker; and her brother, Basil (Ellen) Cook.

Georgie enjoyed ceramics and did beautiful work.  

Many pieces she made are still treasured.  She enjoyed doing word and number puzzles right to the end.