Hannah Frances Gayle passed away peacefully September 22, 2006, in her beloved Wimberley family home. Hannah realized her lifelong dream of living on the Blanco River on land purchased by her grandfather in 1917.
Born into a Texas pioneer family on July 29, 1917, in Port Arthur, Texas, to Ruth Munson and Frank Smith, she was a proud Mayflower descendent of William Brewster. Her great-great-grandfather, William Henry Munson, settled his family in Texas in 1828 in the Stephen F. Austin colony.
Hannah's love of family history led to the creation of the Brazoria County Historical Museum, where she was a dedicated volunteer for many years. Her interests included gardening, anything to do with wildflowers, the arts, history and total involvement with her loving family.
She is survived by three children, Carl Vaughan III, Ruth Munson Ford and Scott Armour Vaughan, and her brother, Munson Smith. She was blessed with eight wonderful grandchildren: Houston Thomas Ford, Gretchen Vaughan, David Raley Ford, Beau Eagle Vaughan, Cortney Vaughan Johnson, Erin Vaughan, Austin Thomas Vaughan and Johnathan Tanner Vaughan; and one great-grandson, Colton Vaughan.
She was preceded in death by her son, Thomas Eagle Vaughan; and her brother, Dr. Frank Thomas Smith.
She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. A celebration of her life will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday September 25, 2006, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Wimberley, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Ovarian Cancer Research, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210-4486. (800) 525-5841.
