Obituary of Vaughn Clark Stout

VAUGHN CLARK STOUT OBITUARY

November 2, 1929 – February 17, 2024

 

Vaughn Clark Stout returned to our Heavenly Home on February 17, 2024, in Chandler, Arizona due to heart failure. He was 94 years young.

 

Vaughn was born in Blackfoot, Idaho on November 2^nd, 1929, to Wayne Durham and LaRene Clark Stout. He was the third child of six children, all who have preceded him in death: Owen, Monte, David, Maxine and Richard. During his youth he enjoyed playing sports, lifting weights, but especially drawing or painting. He graduated from South High School in Salt Lake City in 1946 and entered the Air Force shortly after. He served as a flight photographer and was discharged honorably after two years of service.

 

Shortly after marrying his first wife Mary Louise Poppleton in 1951 in the Salt Lake Temple, Vaughn still had a desire to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was given permission to serve a mission in the Australian Mission in 1951. A family from his mission later spoke of his service to their family. They said, “Elder Stout was so friendly with parents and children, and soon found himself drawing portraits. While he drew, the family asked him questions about his strange religion. Normally nervous about teaching in a formal setting, Elder Stout simply answered the questions. Several members of the family had been seeking for truth and praying for guidance. Vaughn’s answers made sense and went straight to our hearts. Since then, many have been baptized, married in the temple, and served missions. To this day they remember Elder Vaughn Stout.”

 

After returning from his mission over the course of the next 32 years, Vaughn and Louise, had ten children: Leigh, Terrell, Holly, Bill, John, Jim, Trisha, Adrianne, Robert and Richard. As children arrived and grew, Vaughn was given the opportunity to enhance his artistic gifts by being an apprentice to Arnold Friberg for seven years in Salt Lake City. He continued giving art lessons and selling and trading his artwork for extra income. At the same time, he had various jobs such as driving truck for Kennecott Copper mines, driving a city bus for D.C. Metro in Washington DC, owned a sign painting company in Mesa, Arizona and drawing caricatures at county fairs and art shows. He later wrote three unpublished books.

 

Vaughn was hired on numerous occasions to do caricatures for business retreats while sharing personal anecdotes and stories about life. Basically, a comedian artist. He was a favorite for many cooperate meeting events and was asked to come back time and time again.

In 1982 Vaughn decided to go out on his own, and many years later married his second wife Dolly Robinson in 1997 in California. They were married for 22 years until she passed away in 2019. He eventually moved to Ventana Winds assisted living in Youngtown, Arizona in 2010 to be closer to his daughter Terrell.

 

Vaughn continued to sell his artwork worldwide, drawing caricatures for all the residents and staff and became an icon and favorite. He was also known for his quirky sense of humor, languages skills, and his musical abilities. He loved to play the piano and had a wonderful baritone voice. One of the instruments he mastered was the musical saw. He knew how to turn a carpentry tool into a magical and unforgettable instrument.

During this time Vaughn took any opportunity to share his testimony of Jesus Christ. He would add a picture of Christ into many of his paintings hoping this would cause the viewer to ask him about Jesus.

 

 

After many health issues, Vaughn was moved to a full time care center in Chandler.

A week before his passing he was caught drawing a caricature for his girlfriend Kathy and it was surprising how steady his 94-year-old hand still was.

 

Vaughn is survived by his children Terrell Kukla (Russell), Holly Stout, Bill Stout (DeAnn), John Stout (Lynda), Jim Stout (Shauna), Trisha Willmore (Regan), Adrianne Brackner (David) and Robert Stout. He is preceded in death by two children; Leigh Ellett Woodward and Richard Stout, and three grandsons; Brandon Stebbins, Jared Willmore, and TJ Brackner. He also leaves behind 34 Grandchildren and 56 great grandchildren.

~The family would like to acknowledge and express their appreciation for all the time, love and care given by Terrell and her husband Russell Kukla to our dad in his remaining years.

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