Vaughn F. Creswell died quietly Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, in Sheridan.

He was born in Sheridan on Oct. 27, 1920, to Frederick and Nellie Guild Creswell.

At age 6, he moved from the ranch on the Powder River to the Big Goose home in Sheridan because there was no available elementary school.

He then lived with his uncle, D.J., and aunt, Millie Vaughn, where he attended Pleasant Valley School through eighth grade and graduated from Sheridan High School in 1939.

He rose early every morning and milked a herd of dairy cows before heading to school. His summers were spent at the ƎɌ Ranch on the Powder River where his job was to wrangle a cavvy of horses from a 1,200-acre pasture each morning.

He also drove a buck rake to help put up hay in the summers. He always had a fresh group of horses each spring to break and then his uncle would sell them in the fall and he would start over again.

The ƎɌ Ranch soon became known as the Bow & Arrow Ranch as Vaughn’s father, Fred, took over, naming the ranch after his brand. After the death of his father in 1925, Vaughn took over as the manager and continued on with the family ranching operation.

In 1943, he traveled to Denver, Colorado, by train as a result of being drafted by the Army. Upon arrival, he was 4F’d as a result of a heart murmur. He soon returned to the Bow & Arrow to continue the family tradition after inheriting his mother’s ambition to raise cattle and ranch.

He married Khariman Jane Babcock at the First Methodist Church in Sheridan, on Aug. 10, 1947, after a six-year courtship.

After the marriage, the couple then moved back to the Creswell Family Ranch on Big Goose, where they were soon blessed with two daughters, Deborah and Patricia.

In 1961, the family moved to the Bow & Arrow Ranch. They recently celebrated their 71st anniversary.

He was an accomplished horseman, avid fisherman, a true cowboy and family man at heart. He always took pride in the quality of his cattle and horses while priding himself in the day-to-day life of the historic ranching operation.

He was a lifelong member of the Shrine, Elks Lodge and Wyoming Stock Growers Association.

His love for the ranch kept him there until he was 90 years old. He was able to live out his remaining time with the love of his life at their home in Sheridan.

Mr. Creswell was preceded in death by his wife, Khariman J. Creswell; parents, Fred and Nellie; and brother, Fred.

He is survived by his daughters, Deborah (Jack) Barkley and Patricia Creswell; five grandchildren, Jason (Emily) Barkley, Jennifer (Paul) Ryan, Julie (John) Hoffer, Heather Hosford and Cristina (Levi) Gorzalka; nine great-grandchildren, Jackson, Ethan and Henry Ryan, Lucy and Charles Barkley, Margaret and Thomas Hoffer, Tildyn and Tallis Gorzalka; nieces, Kim Phillips and Pam Sajec; nephews, David (Melody) Ledbetter and Mark (Jennifer) Ledbetter; and numerous other great-nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the in-home health care givers and the staff at Sheridan Memorial Hospital for the excellent care they provided to him during the last of his days.

There will be a private family graveside service for Mr. Creswell and a public celebration of life next summer.

Online condolences may be written at championfh.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Champion Funeral Home.

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