THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 22, 1995 TAG: 9511210124
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close Up
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
A lot of lucky people are feasting on fresh ``home grown'' local turkey this Thanksgiving and some of them are giving their thanks to Donna Vaughan.
She and her sons raised several dozen turkeys for the holidays on their family farm out past Pungo. They would have had even more fresh turkeys to sell to folks for their Thanksgiving tables, but a greedy critter slipped into their turkey coop and did away with about 80 of the young birds. That varmint, Vaughan says, is no longer a problem . . .
``Hurricane Donna,'' as she was nicknamed as a teenager, is a woman of two worlds. She's as comfortable feeding poultry and chasing stray cows, horses and sheep on the Vaughan Road farm, which dates back to the 1700s, as she is in the professional world, working as a supervisor in the city's Finance Department.
Full name: Donna Murphy Vaughan.
Hometown: Virginia Beach.
What brought you to the Beach? My family. Dad got out of the Navy.
Birthdate: April 7, 1947.
Occupation: City Finance Department pre-audit supervisor in the Comptroller's Office/Farm woman - sheep, poultry, horses, turkeys, goats, pigs, calves and cows.
Nickname: Hurricane Donna. Given to me lovingly by Dick Cockrell, retired head of the Agriculture Department when I was a teenager working with 4-H.
Marital status: Married 30 years to a man I love and am proud of.
Children: Robbie, 28, Billy, 24, and Jimmy, 15.
What is your idea of a perfect day off? Home on the farm doing family projects.
Last smart thing you did: Took the time and spent the day with my mom and sister.
Last dumb thing you did: Fell down a flight of stairs in a wedding in Kentucky.
Favorite meal: Thanksgiving and Christmas with the whole family.
Favorite movies: ``Pretty Woman.''
Favorite song: ``You Can Count On Me.''
Last book read: ``Tim Allen - Laid Bare.''
Hobbies: Teaching school children all about our family farm dating back to the early 1700s with my brother-in-law Eddie Vaughan. Making homemade sour dough rolls.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Learn to slow down and that it's OK to say ``no'' once in a while.
If you could change one thing about your spouse, what would it be? Could I have fun with this? Seriously, more than 30 years ago, I fell in love with a handsome country boy who had the same values, morals and priorities that I did. We have raised three wonderful sons who have those same values. We're very proud of them.
Secret vice: My 3-year-old granddaughter ``Awesome Autumn'' and chocolate - sometimes in reverse order.
Favorite restaurant: Anywhere I can get good seafood.
Favorite sport: Chasing loose cattle, pigs, sheep and horses that get out of the pastures.
Last vacation: Kentucky with my sons and granddaughter to Andy and Sheila Mullins' wedding.
Pets: Everything on the farm!
Worst job: Trying to pen up pigs and hogs in the mud.
Of what achievements are you most proud? My family, my job, 25 years as a 4-H volunteer and being named Virginia Farm Woman of the year for 1993 and all of my other community service work.
What would you like as your epitaph? She loved the Lord, her husband, her family and her life. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH
KEYWORDS: PROFILE by CNB