Steven Craig Vaughan

Mr. Steven Craig Vaughan, 67, of Farmer, NC, died Friday, September 7, 2012, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. A funeral service is scheduled for 2:00 pm Monday, September 10, 2012, at Science Hill Friends Meeting with Pastor Michael Fulp officiating. Burial will follow in the meeting's cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Randolph County Honor Guard. Steven Craig Vaughan was born in San Francisco, California, on October 18, 1944. He was the eldest son of Hampton Craig Jr. and Iva Vaughan. Steven received an engineering degree from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia, and then obtained a degree in Forestry from North Carolina State University. He then received a Master's in Plant Pathology and Entomology from North Carolina State University. Born into a Navy family, he joined the US Navy during the Vietnam War and came out as a commissioned lieutenant. During that time, he served on various aircraft carriers and flew in the backseat of his beloved A-4 Skyhawk as an avionics technician. Steven was involved in the Boy Scouts of America for 50 years, receiving the Silver Beaver award. Before his passing, he was the Commanding Officer of the Charlotte Division United States Naval Sea Cadets. School children widely knew him as the "Snakeman" because of his rare appreciation, understanding, and love for snakes, a passion that he shared at schools and elsewhere. He had been a devoted member of Science Hill Friends Meeting since 1976. Steven loved his fellow church members for the support and love they consistently showed him and his family during his battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife and business partner, Melinda Henson Vaughan. He was her partner in the family business of Toms Creek Nursery & Landscaping. He is also survived by his sons Aaron Vaughan and his wife Leire Gojenola Martitegi, Brandon Vaughan and his wife Pieng Lee, and Hampton Vaughan and his friend Alyssa Koehler. He is also survived by his brother, Ronald Vaughan and wife, Earleen, of Denton. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Science Hill Friends Meeting at 2424 Lassiter Mill Road, Asheboro, NC, 27205.