Cheryl Lynne Murphy Kauffman, 54, of Riceville, was received into the arms of her Savior, Wednesday morning, March 30, 2016, at Starr Regional Medical Center.
She was born in Nashville, and was a longtime resident of McMinn County. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Roy and Nellie Murphy, Bill McCallister, and Ralph and Mary Murphy.
She was of the Baptist faith and last attended Zion Hill Baptist Church.
She was a 1979 graduate of McMinn County High School and was a graduate of Tennessee Wesleyan College with a degree in Business Management, and obtained her RN from Cleveland State Community College. She had worked as an RN for several Home Health Services, and most recently she had worked for Amedysis.
She is survived by her husband, Barry Kauffman of Athens; mother and step-father, Shelia and H.D. Studdard of Athens; father and step-mother, Ray and Wanda Murphy of Rome, GA; step-sons, Nathan Kauffman and fiancee Alyssa McCoy of Chattanooga, Caleb Kauffman of Walnut, Mississippi, and Jason and Christopher Bivens of Cleveland; step-daughter, Stephanie Guin of Cleveland; brother, Raymond Murphy and his partner, Phaisit Kimakom of Praia, Cape Verde Island; step-sisters, Paula Johnston of Calhoun, Cheryl Studdard of Etowah, Gwenette Powell of Glendale, GA, Paula Stephenson of Cedartown, GA and Cynthia Anderson of Trion, GA; step-brother, Danny Studdard of Athens; uncle, Don (Beverly) McCallister of Hope Hull, AL; and her cats she loved as her kids, Nicholas, Zoey, and Chloe.
A celebration of life service will be conducted, 2:00 pm, Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Smith Funeral Home with Bro. John Crabtree officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday from Noon til 2:00 pm prior to the service.
The family suggests in lieu of flowers memorials be made to McMinn Regional Humane Society, 219 Alford Street, Athens, TN 37303.

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