Obituary of Rachel Vaughn

South Sound Manor, 445 North St. SE, Tumwater, WA 98501 Wednesday, March 14, 4:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 15, 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, March 16, 9:00-10:30 a.m. Rachel Elysse Vaughn Rachel Elysse Vaughn was born on November 6, 1994 in Renton, Washington. She lived her first three years in Tacoma before moving with her family to Olympia. Rachel attended Centennial Elementary, Washington Middle School, and was a junior at Olympia High School at the time of her death on March 9, 2012 at the age of 17. Rachel enjoyed school and excelled at her classes. She earned membership in the National Honor Society, and was a favorite of many of her teachers. Rachel was a hard-working and determined young lady, and applied those characteristics to everything she undertook. Though she tried a little bit of everything as a youth, she focused on soccer and fastpitch softball. Some of her fondest soccer memories were made playing with her childhood friends on the Blue Ice recreational soccer team. Rachel also played fastpitch softball, getting her start with friends as a part of the Wildcats, and later, on her high school team, even hitting a grand slam her freshman year. Rachel was passionate about her faith, and was an active and committed participant in the New Bridge Community Church Youth Group. She put her faith into action, volunteering to provide meals to the homeless, helping with middle school youth group activities, singing on the youth worship team, and serving as a camp counselor at local summer church camps. Though Rachel’s life was short in years, she lived it to the fullest. She loved to travel, and was chosen as a People to People student ambassador, traveling to seven European countries. She enjoyed many family vacations, particularly her trips to Disneyland, Disney World, and a recent Disney cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. Rachel loved to read and play computer games, especially enjoying Nancy Drew mysteries. Just prior to her death, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Her Interactive granted her wish to be featured as a character in an upcoming Nancy Drew computer game, and are dedicating their next game release to her. Rachel accomplished much in the short time she was with us, but her accomplishments pale in comparison to the impact she had on the lives of the people who loved her. Rachel’s courage, positive attitude, strength of character and faith, exemplified throughout her life but particularly in her year-long battle with kidney cancer, will be remembered by all who knew her. Rachel leaves her parents/stepparents, Douglas & Stephanie Vaughn and Karen & Josh Weiss; sister Annika, stepbrother and stepsister, Benjamin & Addison Weiss, all of Olympia, WA; grandparents Sandra McGhee of Longview, WA and Robert & Barbara Vaughn of Olympia, WA; aunts/uncles Sheri & Niels Nicolaisen of Port Orchard, WA, Samantha & Josh Trotter of Olympia, WA, Christopher & Jennifer Vaughn of Tenino, WA, Gregory & Paola Vaughn of Seattle, WA, and Jeffrey & Ellie Vaughn of Anchorage, AK; as well as a loving, extended family. She was preceded in death by grandfather, Delbert McGhee. Rachel’s Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, March 16, at 12:00 p.m. at New Bridge Community Church, 812 Central St. SE in Olympia, WA. Visitation will be held at South Sound Manor, 445 North St. SE in Tumwater, WA on March 14 and 15 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and March 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Donations can be made to the New Bridge Community Church Youth Group or the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Please leave memories of Rachel or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.