Patricia "Patty" Louise Vaughn

Patricia Louise (Soeller) Vaughn, 73, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2026, in her home in Yukon, Oklahoma.

Patty was born on April 21, 1953, near Nelsonville, Ohio, to Wilma and William Soeller. Her family moved to Marion, Ohio, where she lived until she was 14, before settling in Springfield, Ohio. She graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1973 and attended Ohio University before proudly serving in the Air National Guard. In 1976, she married Barry L. Vaughn and in the following year they welcomed their only child, Jason L. Vaughn, to the family. They eventually relocated to Springfield, Illinois. Patty dedicated nearly 20 years of her career to working in Geographic Information Systems for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). In her retirement years, Patty moved to the village of Sherman, Illinois, with her second husband Dennis M. Johnson. Following the passing of Dennis, she relocated to the Spanish Cove retirement community in Yukon, Oklahoma, in 2022 to live closer to her son, Jason.

A woman of deep and active faith, Patty was heavily involved in her church communities. While living in Illinois, she was a dedicated member at the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield for many years before joining her husband, Dennis, as a faithful parishioner at Saint John Vianney Catholic Church. After moving to Oklahoma, she enjoyed becoming an active member of Saint John Nepomuk Catholic Church. She served on numerous church committees, most notably the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.

An avid swimmer from a very early age, Patty shared her love for the water as a swimming instructor for the American Red Cross, an accomplished scuba diver, and an enthusiastic participant in water skiing, windsurfing, and dragon boat racing. Her vibrant curiosity and hands-on nature led her to enjoy woodworking, playing Mexican Train dominoes, Mah Jong, or most any game with her family or friends. She liked to learn and enjoyed attending informative community lectures. Patty was also an active volunteer, dedicating her time to the Illinois State Museum in an outreach program to bring art into public schools and directly working with animals as a Zoo Docent at the Henson Robinson Zoo in Springfield, Illinois. She was passionate about animal welfare and cared for many cherished pets throughout her lifetime. Above all else, Patty was completely devoted to her family, whom she considered the greatest pride, joy, and accomplishment of her life.

Patty is survived by her son, Jason L. Vaughn, and his wife, Brooke; her three grandchildren, Alexander, Andrew, and Zoë; her sister, Victoria Robertson; her nieces and nephews, Nicole Phillips, Beth Robertson (Derek Andrews), and Alexandria Blessing (Benjamin); as well as several beloved great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Wilma and William Soeller; her husband, Dennis Johnson; her niece, Michelle Phillips; and her nephew, James Robertson.

A Funeral Mass will be held on August 7, 2026, 10:30 AM at Saint John Nepomuk Catholic Church in Yukon, Oklahoma. Burial will take place on Friday, October 16, 2026 at 1:00 PM at Calvary Cemetery in Springfield, IL 

Memorial Gifts May Be Made in Patricia's name to:  The Springfield Zoological Society (springfield-zoo-society.org) or St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church (www.sjnok.org/church).