Larry Gifford Vaught

Obituary

Larry Gifford Vaught passed away August 27, 2023, at the age of 83, after an extended hospitalization and rehabilitation, caused by multiple health issues. He leaves behind his loving wife Crestina (Cres) Vaught, son Brian Vaught and wife Katrina, daughter Lisa Bradshaw and husband Jeff, daughter Elizabeth Monsees and husband Anthony, stepson Sean Clarke, and he was predeceased by his first wife, Margaret Vaught and stepson Steve Clarke. He was the proud grandfather of three grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He is survived by a younger brother Dennis Vaught and his wife Judy.

Larry was one of the happiest, friendliest men a person could have the pleasure of knowing. He loved his wife and family and was a great friend and colleague. He was successful in all he did and was always reliable. Larry was extremely talented, a man who could fix a broken car, do body work that rivaled the best body shops, rehabilitate a house or interior, design a solution to most any problem he was presented, and he could even paint an oil painting you’d be pleased to hang in the best spot in your house. The only thing Larry was average at was golf, but even there he always tried to improve.

Larry took great pride in his family and almost as much pride in his two careers – the US Army and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He served his 20-year tour in the Army as an Armor and Air Cavalry officer, flying the OH-6 Cayuse and UH1 Huey helicopters. He originally volunteered for Vietnam in 1966, with the 173^rd Airborne Brigade, and returning as a helicopter pilot in 1969, with the 101^st Airborne Division, where he was awarded with many accolades to include the Bronze Star with V device for valor. He was fond of being at the forefront of the Army’s modernization in the 60s and 70s where he was happy to say “If you ain’t Cav, you ain’t shit.” He hung up his Cav spurs after 20 years in the Army and transitioned to the Federal Civil Service, training senior leadership within Department of Housing and Urban Development, on leadership. Like he did with his family and his work colleagues, he was always instructing and training and bringing up the next generation of leaders for the United States of America.

Larry grew up in Kansas City, MO and outside of Saint Louis, MO, the son of Earl and Fern Vaught of KC MO. Setting the stage for a life filled with humor, he missed school at the age of 4 with the measles, but upon his return to class with typical Larry panache he danced into the room and said, “did you miss me?” He dropped out of the University of Missouri to work at General Motors, where he was one of the youngest managers. Work at GM didn’t agree with him, and he joined the Army. Initially enlisted, he soon attended officer candidate school and was branched as a second lieutenant of Armor. Before he left for Vietnam, he married Margaret Ann (Marge) Strick, who passed away in 2002. After returning from Vietnam, he then attended Helicopter Pilot training in Mineral Wells, TX and Hunter Army Airfield, GA before heading off to Fort Carson, CO before embarking on his second tour in Vietnam, with the 2/17^th CAV of the 101^st Airborne Division. Throughout the remainder of his Army career, he was a distinguished member of the Air Cavalry. His tours included duty the 8^th Infantry Division in Mainz Germany, instructing Reserve Officer Training Corps students at Niagara University NY, tours at Armor units in Fort Carson, Fort Knox and others and his final tour as the Executive Officer for the 1/40 Armor Battalion and as the assistant Division G-4 of the 5^th Infantry Division at Fort Polk, LA.

In 1985 after his army career, Larry moved home to Kansas City, MO and became a Federal Civil Servant in HUD. He spent 20 years in HUD as an Academy Training Officer, retiring in 2005 and moving to The Villages, FL. While at HUD, he worked with Cres who managed accounts payable for all of Larry’s Training Orders and Invoices. Their first date in 2004 resulted in a happy marriage in September 2007 followed by departing the snows of KC MO to the warm rain of Florida.

Larry loved life and enjoyed his time in both KC and the Villages. He and Cres were happy and had a lot in common, and Larry never ran out of things to talk about. Larry loved his God, becoming a Catholic in Kansas City and serving as an instructor for new Catholics in KC and in multiple ministries in Florida. He joined groups and played golf and was a Golf-cart driving safety instructor, but his favorite thing was doing crossword puzzles in the lanai while enjoying singing commercials on TV. He loved driving his golf cart and 1965 Corvair convertible, having had one since the 60s and a life member of USA’s Corvair club.

All who knew and loved Larry will miss his quick wit filled with Dad Puns and laughter. He will be interred in the Leavenworth National Cemetery, in Leavenworth KS. Memorials may be given to Cornerstone Hospice. Arrangements entrusted with BALDWIN BROTHERS Funeral & Cremation Society-Spanish Springs, 352-430-1449. Sentiments are encouraged at www.baldwincremation.com.