John Vaught LaBeaume

John Vaught LaBeaume, of Washington, D.C., passed away on May 6, 2026. 

Born on August 9, 1973, in St. Louis, Missouri, John was the son of Rembert Watson LaBeaume, Jr. and Karen Vaught LaBeaume. He attended Flynn Park Elementary School in University City and graduated from Saint Louis Country Day School (MICDS) in 1992.  He received his bachelor’s at American University in Washington, D.C., and made the city his home for the rest of his life.

John was a true original, authentic to the core. A political wonk, electoral expert, longtime Independent and Libertarian, John lived his principles with quiet conviction. From the time he was a child, he was fascinated with the American Presidents and elections and his early childhood memories included reciting all the Presidents in order and holding mock elections with his sister, Mary.  He was a voracious reader of history and current events. One never left a conversation with John without learning something new. He loved Trivia Night and if you were lucky to have him on your team, you would undoubtedly win. 

When it came to campaigns, John was in his element. A true king of the grassroots effort, he went door-to-door, gathered signatures, and knew how to run an operation with efficiency and heart. He believed in doing the work. 

John was well-known for his quick wit and offbeat humor, which he often wore literally. He was frequently seen in a graphic t-shirt paired with a button-down western shirt or a seersucker jacket. Equally comfortable in the local dive bar as he was at the Willard Hotel or Cosmos Club, John was an adventurer at heart; he loved a good deep cut and would share his experiences with others enthusiastically. He could be counted on to find the hidden gems of any city.

Perhaps his greatest gift was his connection with children. Known affectionately as the "Pied Piper," John possessed a natural magnetism with kids. He was patient, playful, and utterly beloved, serving as an exceptional teacher and mentor who fostered creativity and curiosity. He famously brought books to life by adding unique voices to every character he narrated, making every life lesson a joyful adventure.

John is survived by his sister, Marie LaBeaume Howell (Mary), her husband Thomas W. Howell, and his nephew Edward A. Howell (Teddy) and niece Elizabeth Gholson Howell (Izzy) of Sarasota, Florida; his cousin Stacy Vaught Giacoma and her four children of SeaTac, WA and Alpharetta, GA; cousin John & Amy Pitchford and their children and grandson of LaGrange, KY and Louisville, KY and by loved ones Nikos, Natasha, and his beloved furry friend, Oliver Ter-Minassian of Washington, D.C and Colorado.

A memorial service for John Vaught LaBeaume will take place on Sunday, May 24, 2026 at 1:00 PM @ Wolf Creek Cemetery, Eldorado, Illinois.  Those who wish to follow in the procession to the cemetery may meet at Gholson Funeral Home in McLeansboro at 12:00 PM or they may meet directly at the cemetery.

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