Marge Zakoura-Vaughan, humanitarian and activist, passed away on Sunday, July 21, 2024, in Wichita, Kansas, after fighting the good fight for 83 years.

Marge founded, led, and served on many dozens of community, church, and political organizations. Her humanitarian priorities were in helping abused women, the disenfranchised, and children in poverty, but her work extended well beyond these areas, from the needs of the disabled, the homeless, and seniors to volunteerism on library and transit boards and leadership in service clubs. She had a long active leadership record with Kansas Democrats and received multiple state, county, and national awards for her political achievements. She was particularly active in Church Women United (CWU), which awarded her a Human Rights Award, another of the almost countless awards she received over her lifetime. She had a long career as director of several senior centers. She lobbied for, successfully helped win establishment of, and later served as, the State's "Silver-Haired Legislator."

"Marge cared deeply about her family, her friends, her community, and was a passionate advocate for human rights, especially women's rights," said close friend Terry Van Horne. "She had a whip smart sense of humor and spoke the truth whether you liked it or not, and I miss her immensely."

Marge, born Margie Louise Zakoura in 1940, spent her early years in two coal mining communities in West Virginia. She was the treasured daughter of Victor C. and Lillian "Pearl" Zakoura and younger sister of Mike Zakoura, all of whom preceded her in death.

The Zakoura family moved to Wichita when Marge was 11 years old; she graduated from West High School in 1958. Marge married Frederick "Ray" Vaughan at age 19 and they remained married for 49 ½ years until Ray's death in 2009. They are survived by children Jeffery R. Vaughan and Monica R. Vaughan.

Marge was executive director at senior centers in northeast Wichita and later with the Colvin Senior Center in southeast Wichita for 15 years. This center was located in one of the most needy and vulnerable areas in Kansas and was co-located with a school to help interact with children to establish more trust and understanding between generations, providing services for them as well as needy parents, other adults, and seniors. When services were not available, Marge provided service directly.

During this time, Marge was involved in many state and national councils on aging and mental health. In 1990, the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County proclaimed a "Marge Zakoura-Vaughan Week" in recognition of her outstanding professional and volunteer services to seniors and to the community.

Marge was a Founding Mother of the Wichita Commission on Status of Women and helped establish the YWCA Women's Crisis Center, which continues to serve victims of domestic violence and their dependent children. She was president of the Wichita Human Service Board dealing with community action agencies for services for the most needy. She was on the Wichita Commission on Status of People with Disabilities, on the board of the Arc of Sedgwick County, and on the Disability Advocacy Network.

For the Wichita Unified School District 259, Marge served on the Dropout Prevention Committee and as a public representative to the Budget Committee. She also was a member of the Metro Transit Authority, the Kansas Library Board, and the Kansas State Council on Employment and Training. These are but some of her community accomplishments.

In a letter recommending Marge for her 2005 National Federation of Democratic Women's (NFDW) Humanitarian Award, NFDW and Kansas Federation of Women's Democratic Clubs officers Ardena Matlack and Helen Knetzer noted Marge's entire mission in life was "to help the poor, the needy, the disenfranchised, abused women and children, the mentally and physically disabled—anyone on the fringes of our society."

Marge was also active in the Wichita Lions Club and held multiple positions including Club President and District Governor. She received an award from the Lions International President for Outstanding Service as Chair of the Lions Eye Health Program and Diabetes Awareness at both the State and District levels. She was awarded for her project as Chair of the Kansas Lions Peace Poster Contest that was, said close friend Ardena Matlack, "truly a labor of love for Marge."

A woman of strong faith, Marge was deeply involved in Church Women United, other interfaith organizations, and her home church, College Hill United Methodist.

In addition to being president of Church Women United, Marge served as its Celebrations Coordinator, Human Rights Celebration Chair, State Board Action Chair, and Kansas Representative to the United Nations. She was a member of the Governing Board of Kansas Ecumenical Ministries and a volunteer with Interfaith Ministries, working on Mother to Mother Ministries, Operation Holiday, and an anti-racism task force. She also chaired the Kansas West Conference Board of Church and Society and was on the United Methodist Bishop's Task Force on Children and Poverty.

At College Hill United Methodist, Marge served on CHUM's Hope Team, Homeless Task Force, Church Council, and the United Methodist Church Wichita District Council. In 2002, she completed training to become a United Methodist lay minister. She was United Methodist Women's Spiritual Growth Coordinator and Social Action Coordinator on the District and Conference United Methodist Women Executive committees.

She later attended Calvary United Methodist Church and was a longtime member of Dorca's Circle, Calvary UMC, serving as its president in 2018-19. She was active in United Methodist Women's Women in Faith. With the Wichita East District, she served on multiple committees and as 2020-21 president; for the Great Plains United Women of Faith, she was a member of the Charter for Racial Justice committee and a Church Women United representative.

In an award recommendation letter co-signed by Ardena Matlack and Helen Knetzer, Ardena noted that "Marge's Democratic beliefs stir her into action for taking leadership in a variety of projects particularly focused on the poor, disenfranchised, seniors, women, children, and people with disabilities." Marge's political, community, and church activities were "so deeply intertwined that they enhanced her life. Her decisions and actions have helped others directly, and her advocacy has benefited many more indirectly," serving as "a stellar example for many."

Marge certainly was as active in her Democratic political work as she was in her community and church activities. Among her favorite mottos was "Democracy is not a spectator sport."

"Marge welcomed me with open arms the minute I arrived in Wichita," said her friend and fellow political activist Terry Van Horne. "She took me under her wing, and through many hours of conversation over the last year and a half, educated me on the history of the Democratic party in Sedgwick County, the good, the bad, and the humorous."

For more than a quarter of a century, Marge was a Kansas State Democratic Committee delegate or alternate delegate. She was Vice Chair and Parliamentarian with the Sedgwick County Democratic Central Committee, where she was a dedicated volunteer—including serving as the Volunteer Coordinator for several years.

She was a Sedgwick County precinct committee woman for more than 30 years, and was president and legislative chair of the Sedgwick County Federation of Women's Democratic Clubs and director of the Fourth District Federation of Women's Democratic Clubs. She volunteered at the Sedgwick County Democratic Headquarters, worked on "Get Out The Vote" drives and candidate phone banks, and recruited, mentored, walked for, distributed literature for, and generously donated to Democratic candidates and the party. She moderated numerous candidate forums and registered literally thousands to vote.

In 1996, Marge was selected Sedgwick County Democrat of the Year, and in 1998 she received the State "Outstanding Service Award." In 2017, she received the Wichita NOW (National Organization for Women) Colleen Kelly Johnston "She Makes a Difference" Award.

"Marge Zakoura-Vaughan's strong and deep convictions and faith have probably led her to untiring work in both her Democratic party and her community," Ardena Matlack stated in her recommendation letter, adding that despite her many activities, "Marge found time to carry out her convictions."

Of her long friendship with Marge, Ardena said, "She was my substitute sister. We had a lot of fun working together in politics and church."

As Marge requested, there will be no service.

After a lifetime of service to others, the best way to honor Marge is to donate to one of the organizations that provided her with support when she was in need.  In honor of Marge, the family requests donations be made to:

Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice

313 S. Market St

Wichita, KS 67207

Victory in the Valley

3755 E. Douglas Ave

Wichita, KS 67218

Or donate online: www.victoryinthevalley.org