Leanne J. Vaughan, 73, of Langley, died March 24, 2003, in Coupeville, after a battle with cancer.

She was born March 6, 1930, in Spencer, S.D.

She spent her childhood on family farms around the Bonesteel, S.D., area. She moved with her family to Tacoma, where she met her future husband, Robert G. Vaughan. They married April 19, 1951, and had two daughters.

They moved to Whidbey Island in 1964 and owned pharmacies on South Whidbey until retiring in 1992. She worked in the pharmacies for 20 years.

Mrs. Vaughan was a 4-H leader for many years. She was entertainment chairwoman of the Island County Fair Board for several years and was an active member of the Holmes Harbor Rod and Gun Club.

She enjoyed Ryther Child Center meetings, gardening, bird watching and reading. She took pleasure in writing poetry. According to her family, she had a warm heart and generous nature. She rescued and gave a home to stray and wounded animals.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Vaughan.

She is survived by two daughters, Michelle Hightower and her husband, Tom, of Freeland, and Rene Vaughan and her husband, Scott Walker, of Seattle; a sister, Maribeth Gordon of Tacoma; a brother, Joel Wesselman of Portland, Ore.; a grandson, Aidan Walker of Seattle; and a special friend, Joe Reichman.

Memorials may be made to the WAIF Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 1108, Coupeville, WA 98239; or to St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church Children’s Ministry, 5217 S. Honeymoon Bay Road, Freeland, WA 98249.