Obituary of J. Avery Vaughan

Dr. J. Avery Vaughan passed away peacefully, Saturday, December 6, 2014 in Hants Community Hospital, Windsor, surrounded by family at the age of 92. Born in Windsor, he was a son of the late James Alexander and Olive Pearl (Kilcup) Vaughan.Dr. Vaughan’s formative years in Windsor instilled in him what would prove to be a lifelong love for his community. Following graduation from Windsor Academy he studied at Acadia University, earning a Bachelor of Science in 1942. He then attended Dalhousie Medical School in Halifax, graduating in 1947 near the top of his class. After a four year Residency in General Surgery, also at Dalhousie, he was offered a Fellowship in Surgery at the Lahey Clinic in Boston. He turned this down, preferring instead to return, in 1952, to his hometown of Windsor to practice surgery. As well as being a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons he also earned a Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons in 1970. His distinguished surgical practice spanned 33 years, beginning at the Payzant Memorial Hospital in 1952 until its close in 1976, and continuing at the Hants Community Hospital until 1985. For most of that time he held the position of Chief of Surgery. Following retirement from surgical practice he continued in General Medicine in his home office in Windsor until 2010, a medical career of some 58 years. Throughout his career he also made daily house calls, frequently travelling great distances to reach his patients, and he continued to do this even into his 90’s.In addition to medicine, he was also a self-taught pianist, photographer and artist, producing well over 300 paintings. His art has been exhibited at many galleries around the Province and has won several awards. He taught art lessons for many years both from his home studio and at various settings in the Annapolis Valley, most especially the Wolfville Baptist Church. His students numbered in the hundreds.Dr. Vaughan’s death is a loss to both the medical and artistic community of Nova Scotia. He was at heart a teacher, who eagerly passed on his knowledge in a gentle and brilliant way. He was a consummate student of many things, with a profound understanding of the interrelationships of science and nature, and could teach complex concepts in an easy to understand manner. This enthusiasm for life, nature, learning and teaching never waned.Following the death of his first wife, Hazel, in 1988, he went back to Acadia to pursue his interest in art history, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992 at the age of 70. He felt strongly that education was a vital pathway to success, and through his boundless generosity he helped scores of people gain an education, sometimes anonymously, and always freely.Avery has lived happily with his wife Helena, in their home in Windsor, since their marriage in 1997. More than anything, he loved his family, and they are profoundly grateful for his selfless devotion to them. His passing leaves a large void in his family and also in the community, but his legacy will live on in the hearts and deeds of his cherished family and friends.Avery is survived by his wife, the former Helena (Martin) (Lunn); sons, Paul and Gary (Sharon Forsythe); sister, Pauline Murdock; six grandchildren, Paul’s children, James, Mary Kathryn and Emily; Gary’s children, Matthew, Claire and Laura; stepsons, Steve (Cathy) Lunn and Rob Lunn; step grandson, Steve’s son, Peter Lunn. Besides his parents, he is predeceased by his first wife, Hazel Claire (Duncanson); sisters, Shirley Bowness and Irma Rogers; brothers, Harold, Garth and Ivan.Avery’s family would like to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to the staff at the Hants Community Hospital, Palliative Care Ward, Dr. Cathryn Smith and numerous others in the medical community for their care and support.Arrangements have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., PO Box 981, Windsor, NS B0N 2T0 (902-798-8317), where visitation will be held Tuesday, December 9 from 6-9 p.m. Funeral service will be held on Monday, December 22 at 2 p.m. in Wolfville Baptist Church, 487 Main St., Wolfville, Rev. Dr. Barry Morrison officiating. Interment will be held at a later date in Willow Bank Cemetery, Wolfville. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dr. Vaughan may be made to the Hants Community Hospital, Palliative Care, 89 Payzant Dr., Windsor NS B0N 2T0 or to a charity of one’s choice. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at the funeral home address or by visiting: www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca