Deven Vaughn

Deven Wayne Vaughn, age 24 years of Niles, Michigan; son, brother, uncle, RV worker, football player, and fun friend died unexpectedly at 12:23 p.m. on Sunday, April 12, 2026 with his family gathered around his bed at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital in Saint Joseph, Michigan. His family is grateful for the efforts of the first responders and hospital emergency staff, and moreso for Deven’s strong will to survive until everyone was present; and then to leave, so that no decision was needed.

He was born on September 8, 2001 in South Bend, Indiana to Stephanie Nickole Vaughn, and attended both Niles and Brandywine schools, where he was a great football player. He was employed in RV manufacturing, in plants producing Forest River RVs, Thor Motor Coaches, and NeXus RVs. An important part of his work ethic on the production line was keeping track of the number of tasks completed each day.

Deven continued to enjoy playing football, initiating pick-up games all the time, and always carried a football to his visits to Silver Beach on the shore of Lake Michigan, near Saint Joseph, although never barefoot, even in the sand. He also enjoyed cookouts at home and in the neighborhood, and other social games such as cornhole and beer pong. Music was always playing in the background, sometimes country music, or rap, or female pop artists with whom he would sing-along, generating some mockery and laughter from those within earshot.

The laughter and attention of those around him was a great motivation for his goofy jokes and antics, often answering a dare to do something, or simply a “Hey, watch this!” He also enjoyed time indoors, although still competing in football though the video series of “Madden NFL”, and other sports offered through “2K”. In some quiet moments, instead of picking-up a fidget-spinner, he found comfort and focus by rubbing textiles between his fingers, and his mother recalls evidence in an ultrasound examination that Deven’s fingers were active even before he was born.

His family was his greatest joy, especially his mother, of whom he affectionately named “Momma Dukes”. He is survived by his parents, Stephanie & Billy Mitchell of Niles; grandparents Tom & Ellen Vaughn and Cheryl & Tom Mitchell, all of Niles; Deven’s brother, Brock (& Anna Jasper) Vaughn of South Bend, and sister Kaidence (& Isaiah Reyes) Liska of South Bend; step-brother Michael (& Seirra Holden) Hoadley, and step-sisters, Brittany (& Aaron Patterson) Mitchell, and Kortney (& Johnny) Gamble, all of Niles; Deven’s 2-month-old nephew, Beaumont Vaughn, and niece, Amelia, who is estimated to be born on Deven’s next birthday; and by a great circle of amazing friends.

The family of Deven Vaughn will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. At 4:00, three members of Deven’s family will share memories. Committal will be private, at a later date, at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Buchanan, Michigan. Online condolences and memories may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Twenty-four years feels far too short to us, but it was a lifetime for Deven, and he was busy every one of his 8,983 days (plus those 9 months that his mother sensed his busyness). Playing football in school, and becoming a productive member of his community; entertaining friends, and continuing to compete – even if virtually; but more importantly, he loved those around him, and felt the love returned, especially from his siblings and the next generation – for whom he was deeply excited, and above all, the special love between mother and son.