Tommy Vaught passed away on 06-28-2023 surrounded by his wife and family at home after a battle with cancer over the last year. Tommy was a beloved member of the community after serving over three decades as a teacher, administrator, coach, and mentor. After graduating from East Central State in Oklahoma Tommy served in the National Guard and married his High School sweetheart, Lynn in 1956. In 1962 Tommy and Lynn moved to Oregon where he started his career in teaching and coaching at Roseburg High School, then on to Molalla, followed by Gladstone, where he was among the first staff hired. Tommy coached football, baseball, golf, and basketball. As head football coach at Gladstone the team won three State Championships, was named coach of the year, and later was honored in the National HS Coaches Hall of Fame. Tommy finished his teaching career at North Marion High School where he coached with his son, coached two of his grandsons and finished as an administrator.

Tommy lived in Oregon City, had two daughters, Teresa and Cathy, and a son Mike. Tommy had nine grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Tommy loved the players and students he had the opportunity to coach and teach. He stayed connected with many of them through the years. Tommy’s greatest joy was spending time with all his grandchildren. He rarely missed the chance to watch them in their activities. He taught many of them to play golf at Arrowhead Golf Course where he played for over sixty-five years.

In Lieu of Flowers, the family requests donations be made to Building Blocks 4 Kids, a nonprofit started by his daughter and granddaughter, Cari. BB4Kids gives all children the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities, something coach Vaught felt was an important part of a child’s growth.