Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home, Grove, Oklahoma 918-786-2261. Lella “Lee” Baker Vaughn was born in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on January 14, 1952 to Ellawee Grace and Everett Baker. She graduated from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in May 2013 with a degree in Native American Studies. She was involved in Future Business Leaders of American, Pie Beta Lambda and the Criminal Justice Club. She volunteered at the Miami Women’s Crisis Center and at several churches in the community. Lee was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Grove.
Lee and Everett married on Lee’s 65th birthday, January 14, 2017. They met at church, but connected several months later at the local library. Lee was a library regular, always checking out books to read. Ask anyone who knew her and they’ll say she always had a book in her hand. She and Everett started talking about what authors they liked and realized they both read the some ones. Lee then told Everett she had a little secrete that she didn’t tell too many people. She showed Everett where they put all the new releases. As the library was getting ready to close, Everett turned to leave. After about 20 steps he turned around and went back over to Lee and asked if she’d like to get a bite to eat. They ended up going to Goodfella’s Pizza and talking for over two hours. The rest is history. They have been together ever since, enjoying everything from road trips to Anna Maria Island, daily bike rides around town, weekend trips to Kansas City, refinishing and selling antique furniture, and eating out at locally owned restaurants. Lee passed away on April 14, 2018, from cancer in the comfort of her own home.
Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her husband Everett Vaughn, children and grandchildren. Lee had one son, Geoffrey (Geoff) Grand Williams of Decatur, AR, married to Bernice, and one daughter Heather Leigh Empsall of Parrish, FL, married to Aaron. Lee’s grandkids include: Holden Williams (17), Abigail Williams (15), Noah Williams (12), Bronson Empsall (12), Nevaeh Cockerham (8), Cody Cockerham (7), Oliver Empsall(6), Caleb Cockerham (5), and Deon Lee Williams (2 months). Other surviving family includes Everett’s daughters; Susanne Vaughn of Shawnee, KS and Michelle Pritchard of Grove, OK, his grandchildren; Jamie Lanaman and Jeremy Taylor, sisters Dee Vincent and Liz Hurt.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Lee on June 7, 2018 at 3:00 pm at Grove’s First Baptist Church, 501 E 13th Street, Grove, OK. Memorial donations may be made in Lee’s honor to the Grove Public Library, 1140 NEO Loop, Grove, OK 74344. “A book is a gift you can open again and again”. Arrangements have been entrusted to Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home, Grove, OK.

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