Hot Springs - Mary Frances Vaughn Sledge died peacefully at home August 18, 2013 in Hot Springs, AR at the age of 96. Mary Frances was born August 6, 1917, to Lillian Burks Henning and Walter Henning in Dyersburg, TN. She was an only child. Mary Frances attended Dyersburg High School. She was chosen "Miss Dyersburg" and participated in the Memphis Cotton Carnival. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Tiptonville, TN, and later Christ United Methodist Church, Memphis, TN. She was a faithful Christian, educated and showed her children and others to know God in their lives. She was a member of the Tiptonville Women's Club, the Nineteenth Century Club of Memphis and was active in the Salvation Army. She was a homemaker, an avid bridge player, and loved playing duplicate bridge. She enjoyed entertaining, reading, and arranging flowers. The very center of her life and heart was her family. She loved each one with a passion. She knew she was blessed to be loved by two exceptional husbands but they were also blessed to be loved by her. She knew each of her children's strengths and weaknesses and encouraged each one with love and understanding. She taught her family by the way she lived her life with compassion, courage, joy and strength. She always had time to greet and visit with friends and share their joys and burdens. She will be missed. Mary Frances is survived by her two daughters, Rita (Mayo) Powell of Hot Springs, AR, and Valerie (Max) Whitfield of Richardson, TX: a daughter-in-law, Marsha Vaughn of Jackson, TN: her three granddaughters, Michelle (John) Snowden of Memphis, TN; Kristen (Brad) Laughlin of Jacksonville, FL; and Laurie (Berry) Bishop of Hot Springs, AR. She has two stepchildren, Martha (Johnny) Young of Pensacola, FL and Charles (Judy) Sledge of Contonement, FL. She has four great-grandchildren: Michael Snowden, Lauren Laughlin, Anna Laughlin and Isabella Calhoun Bishop and three step- grandchildren: Ellen Young, Tommy Young, and Anna Sledge: a sister-in-law, Geneva Vaughn of Tiptonville, TN and a host of nephews, nieces, and friends. Mary Frances was preceded in death by her husbands, J.E. Vaughn (33 years) and Norfleet Sledge, (24 years) and by her only son, John E. Vaughn, III, and both of her parents. Lettie Williams, Margaret Clark, Donna Tackett, and Regina Doyle deserve a special thank you for providing their God given talents of compassion and devotion. The past seven years have been made easier by these special ladies. A deep appreciation is extended to Dr. Timothy English and his staff for excellent medical care and a thoughtful and sensitive friendship. Many thanks to the wonderful friends at the Arkansas Hospice of Hot Springs. The family of Mary Frances extends a heartfelt thanks to the many friends and acquaintances who have expressed their love and affection in so many ways. Visitation will be 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 21 at Tiptonville First United Methodist Church, 536 Church St., Tiptonville, TN 38079. Graveside services will follow at 1 p.m. at Tiptonville City Cemetery. Arrangements in Tennessee are under the direction of White-Ranson Funeral Home, Union City, TN. Caruth-Hale Funeral Home (Published in The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, on August 20, 2013)