Paula Jean Vaughn

Our beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Paula Vaughn, passed away on July 6, 2026, at the age of 76, after a tragic complication from surgery. She was surrounded by her family.

Paula was born in New Castle, Indiana, to Jack and Louise (Courtney) Whitaker. She attended and graduated from New Castle Chrysler High School and raised her three children in New Castle, Indiana, before marrying her soulmate, Greg Vaughn, in Kokomo, Indiana. Paula and Greg later moved to Houston, Texas, to be near their children and grandchildren.

Paula and Greg were married for almost 20 years and were happiest when surrounded by their grandchildren. Paula worked for, and eventually retired from, Chrysler Corporation after 20+ years. She held many second jobs throughout the years, having been a single mom dedicated to making sure her children never went without. Paula continued to work side jobs even after retiring from Chrysler — she was a social butterfly to her core, and retirement never agreed with her social spirit.

Paula was the heart and soul of our family, raising three children — Dan, Josh, and Shea — in the most loving and nurturing environment. She was known for her hard work ethic, her eagerness to please, and her kind heart. Paula was the definition of grandma, and being with her was her grandchildren's favorite place to be. Paula was beautiful both inside and out, and her nature would light up every room. She wanted nothing more than to make the people around her feel welcomed and loved. This showed in everything she did, from hosting family and neighbors for cookouts, to going to school to eat lunch with her grandchildren, to baking everyone their favorite treats “just because.”

Above all, Paula was defined by her devotion to her family. She will be remembered for her amazing family dinners, her constant love for her children and grandchildren, and her incredible green thumb. She taught us the value of kindness, and she was the definition of “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Throughout the years, wherever Paula made a home, she built special connections with her neighbors, as her loving nature was infectious. Paula helped care for many people, out of compassion and her own desire for human connection. Her home was filled with the pitter-patter of paws and the joyful laughter of grandchildren. Paula helped her daughter rescue countless dogs over the years and will be missed by her two beautiful rescue dogs, Luna and Violet.

She is survived by her husband, Greg Vaughn; her three children, Dan Sewell, Josh Crandall, and Shea (Olu) Odegbami; her four cherished grandchildren, Logan Sewell, Sydney Sewell, Drake Odegbami, and Harper Odegbami; her great-grandchild, Myles Mitchell; her bonus children, Kyle (Catherine) Vaughn and Myndie (John) Everling; her bonus granddaughters, Genesis, Gracelyn, and Presley Everling; Paula's two sisters, Deanna Goar and Deborah Wills; and a nephew, Justin Wills.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Beth Brown, and her brother, Allen Whitaker.

A celebration of Paula's life will be held on July 13th at 12:00 p.m. at Brookside Funeral Home – Champions, 3410 Cypress Creek Parkway, Houston, TX 77068. All who loved her are welcome to attend. There will also be a livestream of the service hosted on the funeral home's website.