Katherine (Kathi) Vaught was born in San Diego, California at Mercy Hospital on August 14, 1937 to Roxana Minnick and John Minnick. Kathi grew up in Chula Vista, California with her parents and sister Florence until leaving to attend college at Ohio State. She moved far away to college because she didn't want to be known as Florence's little sister or Roxy's daughter, but just as herself. She returned to California after a year to attend University of California, Berkeley where she earned a Bachelor's in Business. She married Scott (Scotty) Vaught and they had four children Daniel (Dan), Michael, Tanya, and Tamara. She enjoyed moving, with her growing family, as Scotty was transferred by the Navy to different locations including Japan, The Philippines, Alabama, Rhode Island and 5 transfers in California. She enjoyed driving with her family four times across the country, visiting friends and family and seeing the US along the way. When younger, Kathi had no desire to travel to new places, but she learned to love the opportunities of living over seas and experiencing different cultures.

She worked as a caseworker for the welfare office helping poor mothers and families prior to having children, and as her children left the house she started her own business as a bookkeeper. She took pleasure in her grandchildren. She enjoyed babysitting Tanya's children Sophia and Owen each week when they were young and seasonal visits from Zach and Savannah . She enjoyed visiting Michael's children Dakota and Caleb in Pennsylvania and visiting Tamara's children Korey, Kallie, Kendra, Austin, and Piper in South Dakota. Unfortunately she was unable to meet Michael's daughter Grace and granddaughter Nora Jane. She was widowed with the death of her husband Scotty in June 20, 2008. Kathi was easy-going, good-natured, cheerful and had a warm smile, even in the late stages of Alzheimer's disease.