September 8, 1936 - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan - March 18, 2022 - Didsbury, Alberta
Vaughan passed away peacefully, at Bethany Didsbury, on Friday, March 18, 2022 with his family by his side, at the age of 85.
Vaughan was born on September 8, 1936 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to his parents Richard (Dick) and Clarice Brand (nee Drake). He had two sisters Joyce Birkett (Ken) and Delores Murrell (Ron) and one brother Dennis Brand (Helen), all of who are predeceased. Vaughan was the youngest in the family.
Vaughan arrived to the Brooks/Scandia, Alberta area from Moose Jaw with his Mom, brother Dennis and sister Delores when he was about 9 years old. His Mom worked cooking and cleaning for farmers and at about the age of 15, Vaughan met Oscar Johnson, and the two developed a special bond, and from that point forward Vaughan lived with the Johnson family in Scandia.
Vaughan moved to Calgary with his Mom at about the age of 18 where he worked for the Gallelli Cement Truck Company followed by Peerless Rock Company. This is the time where he met his wife to be – Ellen Campbell. They were married on November 9, 1957 in Kimberley, BC, Ellen’s hometown. Vaughan worked for a short time at the fertilizer plant in Kimberley and then they moved to Calgary, as they were about to become parents. Joyce Lyn arrived and Vaughan needed more steady work so he became a dogcatcher for the City of Calgary. He always claimed it was one of the best jobs he had. While in that job another daughter Judith (Judy) Kristin joined the family and a few years later Wesley John (John) made the family complete. While at the city he decided he wanted a career and found a job apprenticing as a welder with Bow Valley Welding. After a few years a friend suggested he join a unionized shop, so he did. Vaughan worked at several places throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan. He met a lot of good friends throughout his career and loved to hit the Husky Truck Stop on Barlow trail for coffee and to B.S. with his buddies. Vaughan was a meticulous welder, and very good at his craft.
His next career took him to purchasing two Kenworth Trucks where he worked around the Calgary area. He met some good friends through his trucking business and had fond memories while in that business. With the Alberta economy falling he sold his Kenworth Trucks and did odd welding jobs.
In 2007, Vaughan and Ellen moved to Olds, AB after selling their home in Thorncliffe (Calgary). Vaughan was passionate about guns and especially gopher shooting. With his other favourite pastime - coffee and B.S.-ing with the boys, and while at an Olds coffee shop, he heard someone mention the word gopher so he went to introduce himself and from then on he was in demand with the Olds area farmers with their gopher issues. So the saying goes….”Gophers be gone by Vaughan, You supply the lead, and consider them dead”.
Vaughan is survived by his wife Ellen of 64 years, Daughters Joyce Brand (George) of Kamloops, BC, Judy Gray (Jack) of Calgary, and son John Brand (Rhonda) of Red Deer County, Grandchildren – Sean Brand of Red Deer, Tanis Phillips (Ash) of Rocky Mountain House and Lundy Brand of Red Deer County as well as his great-grandchildren – Kaden, Kolten, Jaymison, Keyera and Grayson.
If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be directly made in Vaughan’s name to a charity of your choice.
A celebration of life will be held at Heartland Funeral Home, 5226 46 Street, Olds, AB on March 30, 2022 at 1 pm.
The Brand family would like to thank all the staff at Bethany Didsbury and AHS Case Manager, Janice Evans, for their compassion with providing the best care for Vaughan over the last 3 plus years. We know he was very well taken care of and we appreciate each and everyone of you who provided such loving care.
