Richard “Rick” Doyle Vaughn Jr., age 45, of Los Angeles, California, died on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, in Los Angeles as the result of an accident. A Celebration of Life service for Rick will be at 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 20, 2016, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora, Illinois. Interment will follow in Bunker Cemetery, of Rinard, IL. A visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday at Frank & Bright Funeral Home.  Donations in Rick's memory may be directed to his mother, Brenda Farrey, for the "Rick Vaughn Memorial Fund" and these will be accepted through the funeral home.

 

     "A friend called Rick Williams, an ardent creationist, which requires faith in God. He was a fair-skinned, red-haired man of average height, bespectacled. He relished puns and delivered them very intentionally. Rick was culturally offbeat and enjoyed unusual perspectives, which is why we were friends. Hearing The Choir, George Takei, or the Smashing Pumpkins charged his batteries. He didn't let hardships sink his ship: he was resilient and was drawn toward creativity. He was reasonable. Creativity encouraged his soul and he served his friends in their artistic endeavors. He let his happiness percolate when joy filled him and retreated into himself to steam when upset. He seemed fearless and nonjudgmental, firm in his beliefs yet very calm about them. To socialize was to view the artwork that hung in the souls of his friends." (Eulogy written by Leah Grover)

 

     Rick was born in Joliet, IL on February 17, 1971 and was raised in Chicago by his foster parents, Vic and Katherine Williams. At an early age, Rick began his never-ending love for travel, his life-long love of dogs and appreciation of cats. At the age of 2, he eagerly listened while his mother read the original Winnie the Pooh stories to him and he was given the nickname of Tadpole by a family friend. It was told to us by his first teacher (Laurel Heiss) that he could easily decipher King James English at the age of 6!
     He loved music, such as a Russian band called the Red Elvises and two Chicago bands named the Smashing Pumpkins and Resurrection Band, as well as the Beatles and many, many more. He dabbled with playing musical instruments and learned how to record things, as well as doing much photography and then later on helped with live streaming when he settled in L.A. with the New City Church.
     Rick was very active in social media, introducing family and friends into the early stages of Facebook and often tagged many of us in his various posts of interest. He once had a goal of having 1,000 friends but had surpassed it to over 2,000. His very last post on Facebook succeeded in him Rick Rolling many of us! He wanted the Chicago Cubs to win the World Series and had recently set his profile picture and cover photo to showcase his vote of confidence in them. He set up a news page that automatically updates, even to this day.
     Rick loved to travel and as a teacher of English (as a second language), he lived for several years in various Asian countries, such as Saipan, the Philippines, China (Hong Kong) and South Korea, where he developed a great appreciation for Asian cuisines and cultures. After much travel, he settled in Los Angeles where he met his sweetheart, Lida Parent.

 

     Rick is survived by his Mother, Brenda Farrey and Step-father, Brian Farrey; his Father, Richard Vaughn, Sr. and Step-mother, Delta; Grandmother, Anna (Turpin) Vaughn; Sisters: Ramona Loman, Brooke Buffington, Heather Hogan, Laurel Dingman and Amber Vaughn; Brothers: David Farrey and Chance Stout; Aunts and Uncles: Sally and Ed Baker, Linda and Charles Kincaid, Alan and Loretta Farrey, and Carol Jacobson; Cousins: Paulita O'Connor, Brianne Lane, Vanessa Anderson, Amanda Lane, Alan Ksiazkiewicz, Matthew Lane, Annie & Trina Farrey, Kelly Crowe and Lee Jacobson; his Foster Family: Vic and Katherine, Joel, Russell Williams, and Kat Dusk; Nieces and Nephews: Michael and Molly Loman, Arianna Dingman; and his Girlfriend: Lida Parent. He was preceded in death by his Grandparents: Ray Vaughn, Leland and Reeda Lane, and Harold and Yvonne Farrey; an Aunt, Susan Lane; and Uncles: Howard Lane and Ron Vaughn.

 

How Your Love Soothes Me

By Lida Parent-Harris

 

Like a soft lilac on my brow,

the kisses of your lips erases

the creases, diminishes the sorrow,

removes the empty rubbish

my heart has taken in.

Makes the world a reason to smile,

a purpose, my life worth living.

Your love crowns me, supports me.

You paint the sky and teach like

the swallow,

it always comes back to me.

Close are the oceans the tidal

we storm, how we make the most

our hearts beat as one.

Someone play this song I am about to write, grab a chair, the love

of this beautiful night!

 

Your love discovers what has always been there,

adds to the dimension,

the bond that we share.

Feeling your love spends each day

forgetting our worries, laughing

at all the misunderstandings,

and cherishes all of life's blessings.

Your jokes ripple my heart,

sometimes I could have thought

my anger was released.

Loving you was a comfort

in you I could keep.

Blue-dapple eyes,

your soul can now sleep,

your love we shared

forever inside of me.