Susie Vaughan Neikirk, 92, died on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, at Westminster-Canterbury of Lynchburg, where she was a long-time resident.

She was born on January 2, 1917, in Lawrenceville, Virginia, the daughter of the late Lemuel Reid Vaughan and Blooma Glass Vaughan.

She was the widow of the late Joseph D. Neikirk and lived in Lexington, Virginia for many years where she was well-known as an able partner with him in hosting alumni of the Virginia Military Institute, where he served as Executive Vice-President of the VMI Foundation, Inc. from 1954-1978.

She was a talented and noted local artist in Lexington, where she was also an active member of the Blue Ridge Garden Club.

During her years at Westminster-Canterbury she continued to be active, enjoying her many friends and frequently returning to Lexington for various events.

Survivors include her cousin Jeannette Glass Plyler of Statesville, North Carolina; and other cousins.

Her ashes, along with those of her husband, will be inurned at a later date in the Columbarium at Lynchburg's Old City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the VMI Foundation, Inc., P.O Box 932, Lexington, Virginia 24450, or to the Westminster-Canterbury Fellowship Endowment Fund, 501 VES Road, Lynchburg, Virginia, 24503.