Vaughn Lakey

HURST -- Vaughn Lakey, 46, passed away Wednesday, May 14, 2008, in Leonard. Funeral: 1 p.m. Sunday at Lucas Funeral in Hurst. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday. Vaughn was born Nov. 22, 1961, in Houston. He graduated from C.E. King High School in Houston. Vaughn was a lover of life. Everyone who met him loved him. Vaughn's passion was helping people. If he had something you needed it was yours; if he didn't have it, he would get it. He loved sharing his barbecue and cooking for everyone, including his family, his friends, and his son's school and football team. Every year he would stay home and cook Thanksgiving dinner for everyone who didn't have a place to go, whether it was their family that had passed on or they lived somewhere else. He was very passionate about making sure he was there for everyone. His famous lines were "Everyone needs a friend" and "Let them be kids" (he learned that line from his Uncle Jr.). And that was the motto he lived by. He was a very special man to everyone. He had the biggest heart and everyone who knew him will miss him deeply. His greatest gift was making people smile. If you were around him you couldn't help but be happy. Each and every one of us is a better person better people for knowing him. He brought out the best in all of us. He always had a kind, uplifting word for everyone, and everyone knew they could call on him day or night and he would be there no matter what he had to do to get there and help them. Just recently he moved to Trenton with his family to live his ultimate dream of living on a ranch, watching the sun come up and set over the fields. He had always dreamed of the life he was finally living when he left us way too soon. We are all so thankful for Michelle and David Kohm for making his ultimate dream come true. He said it was heaven on earth and he wanted to share it with everyone. His friends were many and he loved them all and we will all miss him. As Vaughn would say "Keep your chin up and your chest out, tomorrow is a new day." Survivors: His wife of 24 years, Tonya; sons, Jeff, James, Lance and Brandon; grandchildren, Mattye and Dyllan; parents, Bobby and Georgia Lakey; sisters, Linda and Cindy; four nieces; two nephews; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins; mothers-in-law, Sheriel Weaver and Shirley Weaver; sisters-in-law; brothers-in-law; and many nieces and nephews living in Indiana. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Vaughn Lakey please visit our Sympathy Store.