Janette Lee Kaufman

Janette Lee Kaufman passed away on Friday, October 14, 2016. Born to Mary and Bill Ring in Phoenix on August 1, 1962, Janette grew up on a cotton farm west of Goodyear where she and her brother Bill rode dirt bikes, placed pennies on the railroad tracks and swam in irrigation ditches. Janette graduated from Agua Fria High School in 1980 and received her undergraduate degree in education from Grand Canyon University and her master’s degree from Northern Arizona University. She was an especially creative, funny and inspiring art teacher. While teaching middle schoolers at several districts in the Phoenix area, Janette often reminded her students to “Fear no art!” They responded by creating works that were indeed fearless as well as bold and wildly imaginative. In 1998 Janette married David Kaufman and in 2003 their beloved son, Davis Riley Kaufman was born. Janette devoted her time and attention to Davis while continuing to paint, make jewelry and weld metal sculptures. Janette is preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her husband, David; son, Davis, brother, Bill Ring; nephews Tucker and Harrison Ring and Zakary Kaufman; niece Zoey Kaufman; in-laws Susan and Fred Kaufman, Vanessa and Eric Kaufman and Wendy White; and many other family members and friends who will miss her deadpan humor; flair for brilliant thrift store finds; and enthusiastic greeting of “Hi, honey!” each time she called. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, October 23, 2016, beginning at 11 a.m. at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society in Janette’s memory (

www.cancer.org/donate

). “I remember the way you smiled, when the gravity shackles were wild.” —Beck