Ela Mae Vaughn, 96, of Murray, KY passed away on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at her residence.
Ela Mae was born on August 21, 1924 in Marshall County, KY to Lemar Adonis and Edna Arizona Kelley Copeland. She taught Sunday school and was a longtime member of New Harmony Baptist Church, a church that many years before her family had played a role in founding. During her life, she had read the bible from start to finish numerous times and always liked to pass it on to a family member or loved one when she was through. She also loved crossword puzzles and music. Over the years she had taught herself how to play multiple instruments, of which her most favorite to play was the piano. She was a seamstress by necessity, sewing and hand making many of her daughters dresses for school. She was also known for her famous fried apple pies by her family, friends and members of the church. More than anything else Ela Mae enjoyed spending time with her family, and babysitting her grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband of 18 years, George J. Vaughn; her daughter, Tena Phillips (Tim) of Benton, KY; four sons, Jerry Wayne Byerly of Benton, KY, Danny Hal Byerly (Jean) of Peoria, IL, Jimmy Coy Slack (Sheila) of Benton, KY, and Richie Alan Slack (Felicia) of Benton, KY; twenty grandchildren, Sherrie Turner (Dan), Dane Byerly, Stephanie Myers (Tommy), Heather Fleming (Will), Donald Sirls (Tammie), Michelle McNeely (Jimmy), Mitchell Sirls, Michelle Lebebvre (Marc), Stephanie Schmitt (Joe), Adam Byerly (Mindy), Nicole Powell (Jeremy), Jamie Slack (Michelle), Abbey Kelly (Brad), Casey Slack (Kayla), Trent Phillips (Emily), Tara Phillips, Laura Cope (David), Alex Slack (Kacie), Crystal Teckenbrock (Judd), and Jennifer Cloninger (Steve); forty two great grandchildren; and twenty one great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two daughters, Mary Elaine Sirls and Rhonda Carol Joseph; three infant sisters, Mary Picola, Flora Eunice, and Mattie Louvenie Copeland; one sister, Zula Freeman; six brothers, Robert Copeland, Thad Copeland, Horace Copeland, Glendon Copeland, Lowell Copeland, and Aaron ‘Doc’ Copeland; one great granddaughter Madeline Sirls; three late husbands, L.C. Byerly, Halford Byerly, and Coy L. Slack; and her parents.
A funeral service for Ela will be held at 12:00 PM on Friday, May 21, 2021 at Filbeck-Cann
Funeral Home with Bro. Richie Slack officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM on Friday, May 21, 2021 at Filbeck-Cann Funeral Home.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donation to the Gideons International Marshall County Camp, P.O. Box 206, Benton, KY 42025.