1 Mar 1916 – 6 Jan 2006
Husband of Irene Cardon
Life Events
- Vaughn L Christensen was born on March 1, 1916 in Sanford, Colorado to William C. and Dixie Leona Faucett Christensen.
- His brothers and sisters are: Ora Sharp, Velma Poulsen, Dee Reed, Ferrell Christensen, Reo Christensen, Leona McGee, Clayl Christensen, and Kurt Christensen.
- On Vaughn’s 12th birthday his 6 year old brother, Clayl, died from complications of an ear infection after having the measles.
- In the spring of 1929, after much sickness in the family, Vaughn’s parents decided to move to Arizona. On the way, they stopped in Kirtland, New Mexico to visit friends. While there, Vaughn’s father was offered a job hauling coal. He accepted, rented a farm, and settled down in Kirtland instead.
- Vaughn spent his teenage years in New Mexico and graduated from Central High School in 1933.
- After graduating, he went up to Provo, Utah to attend Brigham Young Academy (later BYU). Because of help needed on the farm at home and financial hardships during the depression, he was unable to attend school after the first quarter. He helped his father on the farm and drove a truck to haul supplies to trading posts on the reservation, as well as wheat and hay to Hayden Flour Mill in Tempe, Arizona.
- In 1935 Vaughn moved to Ignacio (near Durango), Colorado where Vaughn and his father went into partnership on the purchase of a farm/ranch.
- In April of 1936 he married the beautiful Irene Cardon in Allison, Colorado.
- Vaughn and Irene’s first 5 children (Carole, Janice, Kenneth, Stephen, and Marvin) were born while farming on their ranch. In 1946, they lost the farm and moved to La Plata, New Mexico for a year. Vaughn and his father divided their milk cows and each bought small farms in Farmington, New Mexico, near the San Juan River. It was there that two more children were born: David and Lynette.
- Vaughn had to build a Grade A dairy farm for his dairy herd. He wanted to build it himself and had his first experience laying block.
- In 1952, three children (Janice, Carole, and Marvin) were stricken with polio, which caused their home and dairy barn to be quarantined.
- They sold the farm in 1958 and built a new home on Glade Road in Farmington. It was there that their final two children, Maureen and Mark, were born. Vaughn ran a successful masonry contracting business called “Vaughn’s Masonry,” and much of his expert workmanship can be found throughout Farmington and the surrounding areas.
- In 1979, after their last son left for his mission, Vaughn retired, sold his home, and moved to Mesa, Arizona, where he built their dream home using his abilities with brick and stone.
- Vaughn was soon called as a Stake Missionary to work on the reservation north of Mesa, and later was blessed to serve as a temple worker in the Arizona Temple for 15 years. In addition, the people of the Lehi Stake in Mesa, were blessed to have Vaughn as their Stake Patriarch for many years.
- In January of 1992, Vaughn’s oldest son, Kenneth, passed away from complications of diabetes.
- In 1993, Vaughn and Irene were called to serve a one year mission as temple workers in Chicago, Illinois.
- After returning home in 1994, they sold their home in Mesa and moved to Gilbert, Arizona.
- Vaughn spent his remaining years serving his church, friends, community and family. His greatest joy was his beloved wife and posterity.
- He returned home to his Father in Heaven and many loved ones on the other side of the veil, on January 6th, 2006.
