Tomiko Nomura Vaughan

Tomiko N Vaughan

June 18, 1932-July 5, 2023

Tomiko Vaughan, age 91, of Merkel Texas, passed away on July 5th.  She was born in Kakegawa, Shizuoka, Japan on June 18, 1932, the only daughter of Ishmi Shige.

She was married to Cleo Vaughan, while Cleo was serving in the US Army.They left Japan and Tomiko became an American citizen in 1964. Tomiko dedicated her life to her husband and children.  After Cleo retired in 1969, they moved from Snyder Texas to Castroville California where together, they went commercial fishing for a number of years.  After 20+ years in California, they moved to Merkel Texas, where Cleo passed away in 1993.Tomiko spent the next 30 years in Merkel where she attended First Baptist Church.  Her neighbors and another group of Abilene Japanese church friends were like family to Tomiko.

She celebrated her 91st birthday with family and friends on June 18 and had a full, blessed life.

Tomiko had 6 children:

Bobbie McCollum who preceded her in death,

Dale (Larry) Neves,

Billie Costa,

David Vaughan,

Mary (Dave) Curran,

and Don (Marie) Vaughan.

Grandchildren:

Henry Charles Madgwick III,

and Chris Landon Neves,(who both preceded her in death),

Tyler & Katie Neves,

Tom Mosier, Patty,

John & Tracy Costa,

Kiko & Kimi Vaughan,

and Justin & Jenna Hicks.

Great Grandchildren:

Kaye & Madelyn Knox,

Christopher & Layna Neves,

Hunter & Jaxson Mosier,

Mikayla Rivera,

Savannah Pursell,

Neico, Rya & Micah Vidaurri,

Claire-Marie,

Allyson & John Jr Costa,

Madison Valazquez,

Edward Castaneda,

Aiden Vaughan,

Koen & Zain Brown,

Brayden, Brody & Bella Vongnarath,

and Landon Hicks.

The funeral will be held July 13 at Colonial Hill Baptist Church in Snyder at 10 AM.  Family visitation will be held Wednesday the 12th at Bell-Cypert Seale from 6:00-7:00PM.