Vaughn never got the credit she deserved. Sure, she would have loved to have the recognition of her name as the author of all those books. But she did not create the words that ended up on the page, they weren't hers. They were the words of people older than she was, with even less recognition. She helped translate their stories into print, but the words still belonged to them, and she was too honorable to put her name where their name rightfully belonged.
Vaughn gave being a lady a good name. Probably every one of us females remembers gritting their teeth when they heard "Why can't you be a little lady like...?" If *that* was a lady, I never wanted to be one. And then I met Vaughn. She had the gift, whatever the circumstances, to put a person at ease, so that they wouldn't feel awkward or threatened. This could be a gawky teen who'd seen a performance and got up the courage to say they liked the show or my mother on my wedding day. Vaughn was my matron of honor and my mother was a bit edgy, looking at all my bohemian friends trying to disguise themselves as responsible adults for the day. Vaughn knew my mother was a teacher, and struck up a conversation on that level; the perfect thing to do.
And never forget that Vaughn was a teacher, another maligned word. When she taught high school (14-18 year olds), she found out that there was a rumor that she could actually read her students' minds, and we're talking about a well-to-do school with sophisticated students. But she preferred to share both her knowledge and information rather than lecture. She took equal delight in discovering something, and in sharing it with anyone who wanted it, needed it, or was willing to hear.

Kat, you know that book you got for Christmas, The Blue Cat of Castle Town? The first time I had a good long visit with Vaughn, I recommended that she read it. First time I'd ever done that, since it's so close to my heart. Vaughn then told me that she and George had lived in Castleton, Vermont, and encouraged me to go and visit the town, which I did that spring. If anybody lived the lesson of that book, it's Vaughn.