CENTRALIA – Pauline Ruth (Hanlon) Vaughn, 91, of Centralia, IL, and formerly of McLeansboro, passed away on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh, IN.

Pauline was born on June 28, 1933, in London, England, to John & Leonora Hanlon. She married Edwin Woodrow Counts in 1960, and divorced in 1967. In 1989, she married Thomas William Vaughn who preceded her in death in 2013.

Pauline was a registered nurse for over 50 years at several hospitals. She moved to the United States in 1958 and later became a U.S. citizen in the 1990s. She worked at Skokie Valley Hospital as the OB & Pediatrics Supervisor, and worked at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro as the 3-11 Shift Supervisor for over 20 years. She had previously attended New Testament Baptist Church. She enjoyed reading books, reading the Bible, crocheting, and solving puzzles. She was an avid Chicago Cubs baseball fan, and she loved drinking coffee.

Pauline is survived by her twin sons, James Edwin “Jim” Counts (and wife Kimberley) of Irvington, IL, and William Stuart Counts (and wife Jennifer) of Broken Arrow, OK; 3 step-daughters, Christine Jenkins, Karon Vaughn, and Annette Broomhead; 6 grandchildren: Nicholas (Ashlee) Counts, Sarah (Kyle) Holder, Kyle Counts, Stephen Counts, Jessica (Kyle) Weisenbach, and Rachel (Doran) Taylor; 8 step-grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. Several step-great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and step-great-great-grandchildren also survive.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John & Leonora Hanlon; her husband, Thomas William Vaughn; and 2 brothers.

Funeral services for Pauline Ruth (Hanlon) Vaughn will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at Gholson Funeral Home in McLeansboro with Rev. Don Smith officiating. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m. at Gholson Funeral Home. Interment take place immediately following the funeral service in the veterans section of the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in McLeansboro.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Pauline’s memory to the American Kidney Fund, and will be accepted at Gholson Funeral Home in McLeansboro. Or you may donate to the American Kidney Fund by going online to www.kidneyfund.org.

Online condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gholsonfuneralhome.com.