|
ODESSA,TEXAS
OBITUARIES
KAY ANN VAUGHAN
" THE WEIGHT OF THIS SAD TIME WE MUST OBEY- SPEAK WHAT WE FEEL; NOT WHAT WE OUGHT TO SAY." ( from the last paragraph of KING LEAR. ) FROM THIS WE TAKE OUR CUE.
SOME OF THE DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF A MARTYR ARE STATED THIS WAY: A PERSON WHO CHOOSES TO SUFFER OR DIE RATHER THAN GIVE UP HIS FAITH OR PRINCIPLES. A PERSON WHO SUFFERS GREAT PAIN OR MISERY FOR A LONG TIME. TO TORTURE, PERSECUTE. IN A WAY THAT I MUST NOT DESCIBE KAY VAUGHAN SUFFERED MARTYRDOM FOR HER DEDICATION TO HER LORD. OFTEN HER EYES WOULD SPARKLE AS SHE SAID " I WAS ACCUSED AGAIN TODAY OF BEING A PURITAN, LIKE RUBY NELL (LOE), BUT THAT WAS A GOOD COMPLIMENT."
AT ABOUT 4:35 PM WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 16, 1970, FIVE PISTOL SHOTS, FROM A HAND THAT WOULD IN SANER MOMENTS HAVE PROTECTED HER, BLASTED LIFE FROM HER BODY. THE WASHINTON AVENUE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN ODESSA,TEXAS, AND HER FAMILY ARE IN THE GRIPS OF UNBELIEVING SHOCK.
IF ONE SENSES THIS IS INTENDED TO BE MORE A MEMORIAL THAN AN OBITUARY, HE IS RIGHT; WE ARE COMPELLED TO PRAISE HER.
KAY ANN VAUGHAN WAS BORN JUNE 30, 1940, IN SAGINAW, MICHIGAN. SHE WAS BORN AGAIN ON JUNE 12, 1967. SHE SURVIVED BY HER PARENTS MR. AND MRS. DONALD LABEAU OF 4314 DELWOOD, ODESSA, TEXAS, THREE CHILDREN OF THE HOME, BRYAN, LISA, AND JULIE ; TWO SISTERS, MRS. JENNIFER MCGEE OF 3632 WALNUT, ODESSS, TEXAS, AND MRS. MARY WORTHEN OF MANILA, PHILIPPINES; ONE GRANDMOTHER, AND A HOST OF FRIENDS. FUNERAL SERVICES WERE CONDUCTED BY BRETHREN BOBBY SETIFF AND BAXTER LOE. BURIAL WAS IN SUNSET MEMORIAL GARDENS IN ODESSA.
BY NOW YOU KNOW, GENTLE READER , KAY WAS NO ORDINARY PERSON TO THIS EDITOR. IF ONE DESIRES TO KNOW HOW I FELT TOWARD HER LET HIM READ I TIM 1 : 2, FOR THIS IS " UNTO KAY ANN, MY OWN DAUGHTER IN THE FAITH." FROM THE TIME OF HER OBEDIENCE TO THE GOSPEL UNTIL WE MOVED AWAY IN MID 1969- ALMOST TWO YEARS - SHE, ALONG WITH ABOUT A HALF - DOZEN OTHERS GRACED OUR HOME EACH MONDAY EVENING AS WE EXPLORED THE BIBLE TOGETHER. SHE TOOK TO THE BIBLE AS A DUCK TAKES TO THE WATER. IN OUR PREACHING CAREER, WE NEVER HAD A FINER CONVERT, THOUGH SHE WAS EQUALED A TIME OR TWO, PERHAPS. USE ANY SUPERLATIVE YOU DESIRE, AND IT DESRCIBES HER. MAY I NAME A FEW? PATIENT, KIND, LOVING, FAITHFUL, VIRTUOUS, GODLY, STEADFAST, ENERGETIC, INTELLIGENT, THANKFUL, AND DECOROUS. I COULD NAME A LONG LIST OF EXAMPLE OF EACH OF THESE WORDS AS THEY APPLIED TO HER LIFE.
THE WHOLE CITY OF ODESSA IS IN MOURNING AT CHRISTMAS TIME. THE HOUSES ON THE HOME BLOCK BANDED TOGETHER TO BRING OFFERING OF TOYS AND CLOTHES TO THE CHILDREN. MAYOR JIM REEVES'S VOICE WAS BEING HEARD EVERY FEW MINUTES ON RADIO AS HE SOLICITED FUNDS FOR A TRUST FUND SET UP FOR THE CHILDREN. THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK, WHERE SHE WORKED TWO MONTHS AND WAS ALREADY IN VIEW OF A PROMOTION TO HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT IN WHICH SHE WORKED, WAS ACTIVELY PROMOTING ANOTHER TRUST FUND. WITHIN 24 HOURS BRYAN'S CLASSMATES HAD PRESENTED HIM WITH OVER THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS. THE GIRLS WERE EXPECTING LIKE PRESENTS WITHIN HOURS. TOTAL STRANGERS WERE SEEKING WAYS TO EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERN. HER FAMILY AND HER CHURCH FAMILY WERE HAVING THEIR FAITH IN RESTORED.
IT OCCURRED TO THIS PREACHER THAT GOOD IS OFTIMES SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO EXPRESS THAN HATE. AS AN EXAMPLE, A NEW CHURCH - HOUSE DOOR WHERE I PREACH WAS UP ONLY FOUR DAY BEFORE THE WINDOW IN IT WAS BROKEN. EVIL WAS AS EASY AND AS HANDY AS PICKING UP A STONE AND HURLING IT. THE LOVE IT TAKES TO EXPRESS A COUNTER ACTION WILL HAVE TO HAVE A HAMMER, A SAW, A SCREW DRIVER, A PANE OF GLASS,A PAINT BRUSH, A CAN OF VARNISH, TIME, PREPARATION, AND MONEY. DISOBEDIENCE IN EDEN GARDEN TOOK A THOUGHTLESS MOMENT OF TIME. COUNTER - OBEDIENCE REQUIRE THE PREPARATION AND THE SACRIFICE OF THE UNIVERSE. LOVE, IN ODESSA, WAS FINDING WAYS TO EXPRESS ITSELF IN ACTION. WORDS. WORDS. POOR WORDS. BUT THE FAILURE OF THEM LIES IN THE ABILITY TO TELL. SPEAK TO ME, SPEAK TO THE VAUGHANS, SPEAK TO THE LABEAUS, OF A HEAVEN WHOSE TREASURES ARE PEARL AND GOLD TO THE HEART'S CONTENT ? NAY, I SAY, SPEAK TO US OF THE FACE OF A GIRL WHOSE SOUL HAS GRACED HEAVEN AS A SACRAMENT.
"A WOMAN THAT FEARETH THE LORD, SHE SHALL BE PRAISED. GIVE HER THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS; AND LET HER OWN WORKS PRAISE HER IN THE GATES" (PROV. 31:31 ).-----
WRITTEN BY
PREACHER BAXTER LOE
Family links:
Parents:
Donald Glassford Labeau (1916 - 1996)
Kathleen Agnes Burke Labeau (1919 - 1992)
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Cathleen Mary LaBeau (Worthern (1959)
she was my dear sister. even today very much missed! I cherish what good memories we shared in her short life but in my heart she is with our Lord.