Margaret Vaughter

Published 12:00 am Saturday, December 5, 2009

Margaret Reagan Vaughter, 63, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly Nov. 30, 2009 at Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc, Mich.

Margaret Reagan Vaughter was born Sept. 9, 1946 in Rose Creek, Minn. She was the oldest of four children to the late John and Adele (Niehuis) Reagan of Austin. She graduated from Pacelli Catholic High School in Austin. Margaret received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of Minnesota. She moved to Flint, Michigan after graduation where she accepted a position as an elementary school teacher for the Kearsley School District.

Margaret was always a kind-hearted woman who helped many others throughout her professional career. She supervised adoption and foster care at the Genesee County Department of Social Services, where she worked for nearly 26 years. She went on to retire from Shiawassee County Mental Health, where she excelled as a Recipient Rights Officer, helping ensure that many adult foster care residents and mental health patients received respect and proper treatment. Margaret also worked as a Confidential Intermediary for over five years, helping reunite endless adoptees with their biological parents.

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Margaret loved to travel and experience new cultures. She and her husband Dennis took semi-annual road trips across the country and into Canada. She often joined her daughter Pamela on international adventures in Europe, and most recently in Mexico. Margaret loved traveling to Chicago to visit Pamela and was always planning her next visit. She never stopped learning and has taken several piano courses at Mott Community College in recent years. She was an avid reader and often traded and discussed books with close friends. She bowled in a weekly league with Dennis for more than 20 years. Margaret enjoyed card making and scrapbooking, and regularly organized and attended related workshops with friends.

She is survived by her husband and best friend of 31 years, Dennis Vaughter of Burton, Mich.; daughter, Pamela Margaret Vaughter of Chicago, Ill.; sisters Sharon Reagan Thonen of Omaha, Neb., Virginia Reagan of Circle Pines, Minn,; brother, John Reagan of Austin; niece, Elizabeth Thonen-Kerr of St. Paul, Minn.; aunts, Monica Johnson of Austin, Genevieve Reagan of Austin; uncle, Dean Niehuis of Austin; step-son, Dennis Vaughter Jr. of Flint, Mich.; step-grandson, Latavius Lee Vaughter of Flint, Mich.; and many friends.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Father Schmitter and the Christ the King family for their support during this difficult time.

A memorial mass will be held at noon on Thursday, Dec.10, 2009 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Flint, Mich. Father Schmitter will be officiating. Family will receive friends beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday morning. A reception will follow in the church. Those desiring may make contributions to the family at: 4275 East Court Street, Burton, MI 48509.