Marjorie Callis

Marjorie Vaughn Callis, age 80, passed away on Thursday, January 23rd, 2025, after a surprisingly brief illness. She is survived by her husband Jack; son Jay (Charlotte) and grandchildren Reilly, Boone, & Brendan; son Bryan (Susan), grandchildren Casey (Steven) Semeniuk & Will, & great-grandchildren Chloe, Claire, & Grey; son Gregg (Chrissy) & granddaughter Caitlin; sisters E.J. (Curtis) Ballenger, Sue (James) West, Kathy (Kevin) Wilkinson, Mary (Chris Pair) Wiles, Teresa (Michael) Pickney; brothers Eddie (Melissa) Vaughn & Marty (Kristy) Vaughn; & too many cousins, nieces, & nephews of too many generations to list. She was preceded in death by parents William & Elizabeth Vaughn, in-laws John Nolan & Frances Callis, brother-in-law Michael Pickney, daughter-in-law Charlotte Callis, grandson Austin Byrd, nephew Lance Ericson, and niece Jennifer West, all so loved & missed.

Born in Nashville on New Year’s Eve in 1944, Margie attended St. Joseph & St. Bernard Schools, the foundation of her life-long commitments: She & Jack were married for 61 years, they lived in their Hazelwood home for 59 years, the extended family has vacationed in the Florida panhandle for 51 years (and counting), & she was a 55-year charter member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church. Margie lived in a generation that prized faith & family, a nearly bygone time when “Mom” was a full-time job title & a full-hearted blessing. With three children in diapers by age 21, she always said raising three boys was easy (a neighborhood of boys helped), but she did needle her children that she knew too many boys & not enough girls at Hendersonville High School. The roots of that dilemma are not tough to trace: Margie spent close to 12 years washing uniforms, driving to football/basketball/baseball practice, & cheering at ballgames or school performances. She reminded her boys as teenagers that the unique family car & their parents’ names were too well recognized in town to risk trouble; at least some chose not to test that theory (the pumpkin on top of HHS is another story). Margie easily graduated from parent to grandparent. Both generations have especially fond recollections of: arriving at Panama City Beach at night & holding hands to cross the street just to hear the waves for the first time; listening to records (vintage!) by Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, The Eagles, The Doobie Brothers, Chicago, etc., or chatting about music and concerts; Grandmom’s spaghetti for any occasion, really; & Winter Wonder White ice cream on warm brownies with the 24-hour marathon of “A Christmas Story” in the background. Because of such treasured memories, Margie’s legacy will last many more lifetimes.

A Funeral Mass for the repose of the soul of Marjorie Vaughn Callis will be held at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church (1729 Stop 30 Road, Hendersonville 37075) at 1PM on Tuesday, January 28th. Friends & family are invited to visitations from 4-7PM on Monday, January 27th, at Hendersonville Memory Gardens (353 E. Main St.) or from 12-1PM on the 28th preceding the mass at OLOL. All are also welcome to join family members as they offer special prayers while reciting the Rosary shortly after 7PM on Monday, January 27th, at Hendersonville Memory Gardens. Burial services will start around 2:30PM after mass on the 28th at Hendersonville Memory Gardens (all events listed sequentially at hendersonvillefh.com). Please feel free to contribute to the charity of your choice in the spirit of Margie’s sweet memory.

Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”