Dear Kari and family, our love and prayers are with you. We’re sorry we couldn’t support you in person, but know you all have been and are in our thoughts and prayers for God’s comfort and peace during these difficult days and beyond. Much love.

“All their life in this world and all their adventures…had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle Thank you for being here today with Gary Vaught’s family and friends. We have been greatly touched by all the stories of Gary that you've shared with us over the past couple of days. Gary was an amazing man of God. His wisdom was incredible and we loved him dearly. God had His hand on him from day one. He had passed from this world into the presence of Christ. To lose a loved one is to sit on the edge of eternity. In reality, this is where we always live and yet the business of life and our realities as physical beings anchor us to the grounds of the earth. But in these moments when we watch someone we love leave this world, our thoughts linger on where he is now. We continue to sit here in this place, with our feet physically walking on wet grass and cold ground and yet our gaze reaches onward as we give full attention to where this special man now makes his home – in Heaven with Jesus. Gary was a man of great integrity and values who built businesses and also raised children he proudly sent out into the world armed with education and the platform to make a difference with the gifts they were given. His legacy lives on in all their children and grandchildren. He taught me that you can age with love in your life and a sense of adventure. You can stay sharp and relevant by reading and keeping up with what was happening in the world today, but also by reading biographies of great men and history.  Him and I would argue about politics and history, but mostly we laughed constantly and loved each other fiercely. Grief is unbelievably tough, but we have your presence and memories in our hearts. I’ll wipe away our tears for some time, I know.  My daughter and I were late to the party but the past year we got to spend with Gary was memorable. From day one, I’ve felt like I could depend on him just as much as one of his own. I will miss his laughter, his jokes, his sarcasm, his complete happiness and gratitude when I’d make him some of his favorite food — He loved to eat good food and I love to cook it. We got along great. I’m eternally grateful for the son he raised who became an important part in our lives. Gary treated us like we were apart of his own. Life is a precious gift. He knew that, and expressed his gratitude for it. It won’t be easy to live up to your idea of hard work, dedication, and diligence. It won’t be easy to celebrate birthdays and holidays. It won’t be easy to look through photo albums and videos. It won’t be easy to see mom without you. But we’re making it. We’re surviving, just like you would want us to. We love and miss you. We will see you soon.

I will miss Gary very much. I enjoyed just sitting on the couch next to his recliner and visiting with him. He was always interested in whatever I was doing in life. I enjoyed listening to his stories and watching movies with him. We were both night owls. His home was open at anytime to family and friends. I'm grateful for the love he had for my mom. I was blessed to have spent some extended time with him just a few weeks before he passed away. It was a gift. God is good. I will see you again, Gary! Thank you for your love toward me.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.