Merlee Florence (Vaughan) Anderson

August 3, 1932 – July 2, 2013

On August 3, 1932 Merlee Florence Vaughan was born in the living room of the family home on Waverly Rd. in Lansing, MI to Robert and Edith (Lamkin) Vaughan. She was the second of their five children and their only daughter. She was raised in faith as a part of a founding family of the Faith United Methodist Church. Strong in her faith and a member until she passed she served as a trustee for many years as well as volunteered for the Food Bank. She is described as an elegant lady. She was compassionate and gracious. All that met her loved her as she was always kind and always accepting.

At age 17, she met the love of her life and married him, Merle V Anderson. She often said they were made for each other. They lived their first years together on military bases as he served as a US Marine then in the US Army before settling back in Lansing, MI in 1955. Merle went on to become a fireman for the City of Lansing from which he retired as deputy chief in 1987. Merlee held part time positions over the years namely at the State of Michigan, Diamond Reo, Fox Jewelers and Sears Roebuck Co. where she retired from in 1987. They enjoyed their retirement together by traveling to such places as China, across Europe and many of our 50 states and spending quality time with their children, grandchildren and extended family. She believed in family and was regarded as the glue that binds them all.

Today she has passed on from this earth to where her father was calling her home.  She is survived by her very loving husband, Merle and 4 wonderful children: Gayle (Jerry) Hulbert, Don (Mary) Anderson, Jim (Melody) Anderson and Ed (Julie) Anderson, 7 grandchildren: Sharla, Andy, Brian, Jennifer, Allen, Scott and Karen and 7 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and older brother, Charles Vaughan but also survived by 3 remaining brothers: Allen Vaughan, Jason (Wanda) Vaughan and Roger (Ann) Vaughan and many nieces and nephews that she loved and adored.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 6, 2013, at Faith United Methodist Church, 4301 S. Waverly Rd., Lansing. Interment will follow in Deepdale Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Friday at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel and 1 hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Faith United Methodist Church in her honor.

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14 Messages to “Merlee Florence (Vaughan) Anderson

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Brian and Kerstin
July 3, 2013 at 7:05 pm

We love you Grandma and we will miss you dearly…

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Mark Vaughan
July 3, 2013 at 11:12 pm

You will be missed by all.

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Mike and Debbie Johnson
July 4, 2013 at 8:15 am

You will be remembered fondly Aunt Merlee. Thank you for always being there for anyone who needed anything!

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Maryellen (Vaughan) Berry
July 4, 2013 at 9:41 am

Aunt Merle was classy, confident, and kind.
I will cherish the fond and loving memories.
Prayers for my family, and hugs and kisses to
Uncle Merle. <3

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Valorie Underwood
July 4, 2013 at 9:58 am

Thank you for coming into my life. You are imprinted in my heart. I love you kiddo!!!!!!!

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Angela and Chris Croteau
July 4, 2013 at 10:16 am

Aunt Merlee you will be greatly missed. We are happy that you were a part of our lives. May you rest in peace!

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Don and Mary Anderson
July 4, 2013 at 12:42 pm

We love you and miss you!!! You have left a huge part of yourself in all of us!! We are glad that your pain is gone!! We know that you are in a much better place!!! Love, Don and Mary

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Mike and Bobbi Hampton (Niece)
July 4, 2013 at 2:18 pm

Aunt Merlee, you will be so missed. I really wish I could have come up to see you. I keep thinking back to Christmass at your house and holidays at the lake while I was growing up. It was always so much fun when the whole family was together and you were such a big part of that. I’m so glad you were my Aunt and a part of my life !!!! Rest in peace. Love Bobbi

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Dottie Ritter
July 4, 2013 at 5:15 pm

You will be missed so much. Even tho I didn’t see or talk to you often, I knew you were there. Thank you for being in my life. Prayers will be going out for Andy and the kids.

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Ed and Julie
July 4, 2013 at 7:17 pm

Mom was a very special lady. A gift from God to everyone. She was the strength in this family. She loved everyone and never met a stranger. We are very sadden by her death but it helps to know that she has gone home to our Lord Jesus.

We love and miss you very much.

Ed and Julie

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Allen and Kathy
July 4, 2013 at 7:21 pm

Our life will never be the same. We want you to know that time will help all of us during such a difficult time. Our deepest sympathy. We will miss her dearly.
Allen and Kathy

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Ed and Julie
July 4, 2013 at 7:32 pm

REV 21:4. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

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DuWayna Downey
July 5, 2013 at 10:26 am

Merlee was such a beautiful woman, who had a kind and loving soul. I thank the Lord for bringing her and Merle into my life about 2 1/2 years ago, visiting with them was always a joy.
I look forward to the day that we are all called together in the sky, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
My prayers are for the wonderful family that she has left behind, that they will love and cherish one another. Our days here are numbered, and we never know when it will be our time to go.
We must make the most of the time we are given to show those we love how much they mean to us, so when the time comes there will never be regrets. Gods blessings to all of you, love Duwayna

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Kathleen Vaughan
July 6, 2013 at 6:28 pm

My dear sweet sister Merlee ! Yes, we always referred to each other as sisters as neither of us had a sister…only brothers. I feel like a part of me is missing. We were always so close. You will forever be in my thoughts and in my heart until we meet again someday in the glory of the kingdom of God ! We will welcome each other with open arms once again. I love and miss you very much. You will always be my “sister”.

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