Thomas Vaughn, 86, Phoenix, Ariz., died Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 at Good Samaritan Hospital as a result of a brain hemorrhage.

Tom was born Thomas Abraham Shamoon on March 16, 1929, in Chicago, Ill., to Abraham and Blanche Myers Shamoon. After his parents died, Tom and his sister, Nancy, moved to Indiana (Hamlet and Pierceton) to live with his mother’s sister, Jessie, and her husband, Harold Vaughn, who adopted them. Tom was a U.S. Navy veteran. After the war, he was stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He met and married Joyce Kroll in May 6, 1948, having three children: Alicia Rose, Brooks and Zev.

Tom worked as a carpenter, woodworker and general contractor in New York. Later he lived and worked in historical building and furniture restoration in Cooperstown, N.Y., and Williamsburg, Va. He met Shearon Donaldson in Cooperstown and they were married on Nov. 3, 1973, in Williamsburg. Son Nathan Thomas was born there in 1977. Bart Louis was born in Flagstaff, Ariz. in 1980. Tom and Shearon finally settled in Phoenix, Ariz. in 1980.

Tom was a talented and creative woodworker, known particularly for his re-creations of historic furniture and building elements. He was a Civil War enthusiast, participating in the North-South Skirmish Association for many years and later in historical enactments at Civil War and Revolutionary War events. He was an antique dealer and collector of artifacts, including historic cameras, guns and tools. Tom had over 45 years of sobriety through Alcoholics Anonymous. He was active in Silver Sneakers at the Maryvale YMCA, and as one of the original employees at the Cardinals Stadium, he was proud to have completed 10 years of service.

Tom loved hunting, camping and fishing and fixing things, both in upstate New York and in Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his adoptive parents; his sister: Nancy Bollinger, South Whitley; and his son: Zev. Tom is survived by his wife: Shearon; former wife: Joyce; daughter: Alicia (Lou) Poppe, Staten Island, N.Y.; sons: Brooks (Siwei) Vaaughn, Bowie, Md.; Nathan (Tricia) Vaughn; and granddaughter: Isla, of Oak Harbor, Wash; son: Bart Vaughn, Ottawa, Ill.; and nephew: Daniel Bollinger, Bloomfield, Ill.