Vaughn Durfee

Vaughn Oran Durfee, 87, of Glenns Ferry, passed away at his home on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014.

A viewing will be held from 3-5 p.m. at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the VFW Hall in Glenns Ferry. Burial with military honors will follow at Glenn Rest Cemetery.

Vaughn was born Oct. 12, 1926, to James and Florence Durfee in Hagerman.

He served in the U.S. Navy Seabees during World War II, seeing service in the South Pacific and Okinawa. After the war, he tried logging in the Stibnite area and then went to work as an iron worker for Morrison-Knudson Construction Company. As an iron worker, he helped build the airport in Casablanca, Morocco, and most of the Idaho Power dams on the Snake River.

He met and married Lucille K. Duerig in 1950.

After returning from Morocco, he went to work at Mountain Home Air Force Base in the civil engineering welding shop, where he worked his way up to shop foreman. He retired in 1986 after 30 years.

Vaughn lost Lucille in November 1997. He married Evelyn Arterburn in 2004. Evelyn passed away in 2007.

He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed many hours drowning worms with his family. He loved watching sports, football, baseball and basketball, on TV and visiting with his friends on the phone to discuss the games.

Vaughn was a 32nd Degree Mason, a member of the Southern Jurisdiction of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Freemasons and a member of the El Korah Shrine. He served as Associate and then Worthy Patron, while Lucille was Associate Worthy Matron and then the Worthy Matron of the Victory Chapter No. 60 of the Eastern Star OES.

Vaughn is survived by Lucille's children, Dae Ann Strickell and Knight C. "KC" Duerig. He is also survived by Evelyn's children, Sheila, Randy, Jim, Paul and Cherie. Although Vaughn never had any biological children, he was proud to claim all of his step-children, the grandchildren (19) and numerous great-grandchildren as family, as well as his sister-in-law, Nora Durfee.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Florence Durfee, brothers Willis and Jim, and his wives Lucille and Evelyn.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or the American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers.