Georgie Ann Cook Vaughn

Georgie Ann Cook Vaughn

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. 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 Gene built houses and Georgie did the business accounting and helped make decisions on fixtures and colors of the spec houses. Georgie had two more children in Libby. Georgie and Gene provided a home for over 40 foster children and several exchange students between 1966 and 1985 in Libby. Sometimes it was just over night and sometimes it was years.

She was selected Woman of the Year in 1977 by the Kootenai Business and Professional Women. She was elected to the Libby School Board in 1982.

In 1987 Georgie and Gene 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 Georgie and Gene moved to Clifton, Ariz., and in 2010 Georgie 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 one son, Paul (Elise) Vaughn; three 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.