Oran Everett Vaughan

Oran Everett Vaughan, age 77, of Searcy, AR passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2024. Everett is survived by his wife Sharon, his children—Missy (Robert) Powell, Robert Vaughan, Twila (Brendan) Devine, and Meagan (Kyle) Spencer—as well as his bonus children Danny (Lesa) Calvert, Clay (Sarah) Kannada, Amy (Patrick) Powell, and Michael Culpepper, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Everett had a personality that could fill any space, even as early as this firecracker made his way into the world on July 4th, 1946, born to the late Jess and Viola Vaughan in Searcy, AR. His formative years were certainly shaped by his many siblings including his very special sisters Joyce Shockley and Twila Johnston, as well as the late Dorothy Jackson and Alma Jean Yarbrough. Without a doubt, his siblings are to thank (or perhaps blame) for his love of card playing, pecan pie, storytelling, a great prank, and his extreme fear of snakes and bumble bees (those last 3 are likely related).

After graduating from DeWitt High school in 1965, Everett pursued the family business- (no, not moonshine) - the other family business: the grocery business. Ever friendly and eager to strike up a conversation, Everett never met a stranger, only friends he had yet to meet. His gift for gab served him well throughout his career as he worked first in the meat market, moved quickly into management, and eventually moved into a position he loved: scouting locations and opening new stores. Later in his career Everett opened his own stores and even wrote and produced a television commercial advertising his stores.

It was the need for work travel that allowed Everett to discover one of his loves- flying. He became a private pilot and logged many hours in the air. Everett would tell you he was a better pilot than driver, something his son Robert might argue with after a particular emergency landing in a corn field.

Perhaps real trust is born of lifelong friendship. In spite of the aforementioned emergency landing, Richard Tolbert (Everett’s best bud since they were both 7 years old) joined Everett in business and in the air, cruising along with Everett as pilot. Trust or lunacy, whatever you’d like to call it, the two logged countless miles in the air as well as on land. They could be found on with anything with wheels trying to make bikes jump and cars exceed the dial on the speedometer. They still spoke on the phone daily- more than 70 years later.

In addition to flying, Everett found pleasure in a myriad of activities. These included listening to gospel music and golden oldies, avidly watching Jeopardy!, playfully assigning nicknames to loved ones, collecting antiques (with a particular fondness for old Coke signs and antique cars), indulging in programs on the History Channel, penning poems, savoring black licorice jelly beans, and harboring a questionable affinity for El Caminos.

His career also led Everett to another love- in fact his greatest love- his wife, Sharon. Though they were given not quite even 20 years together, they truly found their match in each other- with a marriage full of love, laughter, pigheadedness, patience, and truly caring for each other through “for better and for worse.” They had adventures in the Wild West (anywhere these two were found was going to be a little wild) living in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona before settling in their home state of Arkansas. He once said his only regret was not meeting her sooner.

After retiring from the grocery business, Everett, a hard worker who was never one for idleness, found another job he thoroughly enjoyed as a substitute teacher. This was an excellent fit as he had always enjoyed learning and was a history buff. Everett had always enjoyed interacting with kids and felt they helped keep him young.

Everett’s own children might question his need to be “kept young” as he was always up to shenanigans. On more than one occasion, Everett dressed up as a hillbilly and carried barely legible signs to embarrass his children. There were silly songs such as “sippin’ cider” and “a bicycle built for two” sung badly, loudly, and often publicly. There were endless games of rummy and pitch, plane rides, driving lessons well before the age of 16, dad jokes before they were cool, beard rubs (rubbing your chins together), and so much love and laughter. Birthdays without his signature rendition of happy birthday will never be the same.

Everett cherished his role as Granddaddy and Papa Bear, joyfully sneaking his grandkids their first taste of ice cream, taking them to Sunday School, and sharing his deep love of card games and of literature by reading books all day and bedtime stories at night (often resulting in all readers falling asleep with the book). Beware when challenging any of these youngsters in a game of cards as they’ve undoubtedly inherited Papa Bear’s notion that you aren’t trying real hard playing cards if you aren’t cheating a little.

To say Everett will be missed seems inadequate. A personality so large leaves quite a hole in the hearts of family and friends. We are thankful to know this is not really the end- we will see him again one day. Everett’s faith in God was evident in his love for the church and his relationship with Jesus. He loved God and loved others. He taught his children to love others as Jesus did- regardless of race or status in this world. He cherished the family tradition of gathering to read the Christmas story. He fought the good fight, ran with endurance and has finished the race God set before him. We know he is rejoicing.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the nurses and care team at the Unity Health LTACH for providing a compassionate and caring environment in Everett’s last months of life. You all took such great care of him, as well as us, and we are grateful.

Services will be held at 2pm on Saturday, April 20 at Liberty Hill Church, 783 School Rd Rose Bud, AR  72137.

Everett/Daddy/Grandaddy/Papa Bear brought color to all of our lives and so we invite you to wear a color other than black to the service.

Cremation arrangements are provided by Sullivan Funeral Care in Kensett, Arkansas. Please sign the online guestbook at www.sullivanfuneralcare.com.

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