Sharon Lee “Vaughn” Clark
April 15, 1949 - March 28, 2026
Sharon Lee “Vaughn” Clark, age 76, of Versailles, passed away Saturday, March 28, 2026, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born April 15, 1949, in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, daughter of the late Harold Edwin and Dorothy Lee (Rosenbalm) Vaughn. On December 2, 2000, at the Versailles Presbyterian Church, she was united in marriage to her surviving husband, Bill Clark.
Sharon was baptized on July 2, 1961, at the Shuttleworth Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill. She graduated from Pleasant Hill High School in 1967. An athlete and friend to many, she was elected Homecoming Queen in 1966. She worked at the Peoples Theater as a teen and she had a baton twirling school for girls. She was proud of the many girls that performed under her instruction and leadership. She obtained a beautician license starting a 28 year career at Georgia’s Courtesy Beauty Shop, Pleasant Hill, Blue Room Salon, Tipton and local salons. Sharon served children as a paraprofessional at the Latham School and Tipton School Districts. Truly she embodied the career and character of a horseman all of her life.
A woman devoted to caregiving and service to others she cared for her family, friends, and all those in need for the entirety of her life. Even in her last days she showed great concern for her family and friends. She was more than friendly and quickly became a “good friend” to those she met. She was always busy, never idle. She practiced cleanliness, saving well and being generous to others with her time, knowledge and resources. Above all, she believed in kindness first.
Sharon was a founding member of the Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association later becoming the first female president of the organization. She traveled to Italy in 1991 and ‘92 to take 24 horses to new Italian owners and to instruct them in the art of barrel racing. She was first director for Missouri National Barrel Horse Association and helped promote the new divisional format of barrel racing. She was proud to judge the State 4H Horse Show more than any other. She judged horseshows for four decades. She was active in countless equine and rodeo organizations through her life as a tough competitor, leader and educator. She never withheld her knowledge of the horse and the art of barrel horse training and racing if she was asked. She sought information about horses and she shared that as a clinician. Many were privileged to ride horses trained by Sharon, and once you rode one of hers, well it was hard to ride anything else. She truly never gave up on a horse, even the hard ones.
She was a great and loving mother and nana investing her heart and soul into both her daughter and granddaughter’s lives. She will be remembered for her welcoming smile, always showing kindness, her heart for service, her passion for horses and the love she so freely gave to her family and friends.
In addition to her husband, Bill, she is survived by her daughter, Leeanna Meador and husband Donald of Tipton, Missouri; step-sons Jed Clark and wife Meg of Red Bank, New Jersey; and Joel Clark and wife Abbey of Gravois Mills, Missouri; granddaughter, Shalynn Meador of Decatur, Texas; brothers, Dean Vaughn and wife Chris of Marshalltown, Iowa and Rob Vaughn and wife Teri of Urich, Missouri and many nieces and nephews and friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, David Vaughn.
A celebration of Sharon’s life was held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 8th, at the Legacy Barn, 16755 State Route 52, Barnett, Missouri 65011 with a visitation to follow the service. Graveside services are at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, April 9th, at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Pleasant Hill. Memorial contributions are suggested to CASCO Area Workshop, 1800 W. Vine St., Harrisonville, MO 64701, Ability Mid MO, P.O. Box 223, Tipton, MO 65081 or Quality Industries, P.O. Box 124, Versailles, MO 65084.
Expressions of sympathy may be left online at www.kidwellgarber.com. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home of Versailles.
