Bette Cathryn Vaught, 96, of Crawfordsville, died Saturday, June 7, 2025.
She was born March 28, 1929, at Thorntown, to the late George M. and Ethel E. (Fisher) Rice. After an active childhood running the streets of Thorntown with her friends (she knew the location of all the best fruit trees), she moved to Indianapolis with her parents in the 1940s, where she enjoyed riding the streetcars and visiting the theaters. She graduated from the old Manual High School in 1947, and worked for a time at Stewart-Warner manufacturing.
In the late 40s, Bette’s cousins introduced her to Raymond C. “Poke” Vaught of Crawfordsville. They were married Aug. 18, 1950. She loved her new large family (Poke was one of fourteen brothers), and Crawfordsville was home for the rest of her life. After Poke died Jan. 6, 1973, she became a volunteer Pink Lady at Culver Union Hospital, where she was later employed for 31 years as a medical records coder, retiring days before her 80th birthday. She was a member of Christ’s United Methodist Church.
Bette loved to read (especially mysteries) and work crossword puzzles, and she loved all things chocolate. She will be remembered for the selfless love she showed to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Her written advice left to her family was to read books, eat chocolate for her, and please be good and love one another.
Bette is survived by daughter Debra (Sid) Zachary of Avon; son Thomas (Debra) Vaught of Crawfordsville; grandchildren, Mary (Josh) Fossnock of Frankfort, Grace Vaught (Chris Baker) of Crawfordsville and Samuel Vaught (Brett Roberts) of Massachusetts; great-grandchildren, Joshua, Madelynn, Matthew, Oliver, Olivia and Rosalie; brother-in-law Edwin “Doc” Vaught; sister-in-law Myrna Vaught; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to her parents and husband, Bette was preceded in death by sister Eva Wetherald; two infant brothers; beloved cousins and friends; and her large group of brothers- and sisters-in- law.
A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 14 at Burkhart Funeral Home. Friends and family may call beginning at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be private at Oak Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Christ’s United Methodist Church or the Crawfordsville District Public Library.
