Germaine KaufmanJuly 27, 1928 – February 1, 2005

Germaine Kaufman died in the early morning hours of Tuesday, February 1. She apparently died in her sleep from heart failure. Germaine was 76 years old.

She was born Germaine Eloise Eyerly, in Odessa, Washington, on July 27, 1928.

She was the second of three children of Raymond Leslie Eyerly and Lois E. Siets.

She graduated from South Salem High School. After graduation, Germaine worked as a nurse’s aide, secretary, receptionist and telephone operator in Salem.

It was during her time as an operator that she was introduced to Douglas E. Kaufman, a recent graduate of Willamette University Law School and then an Assistant District Attorney.

They eventually married and moved to Tillamook. While in Tillamook, Germaine gave birth to her only child, Douglas E. Kaufman Jr.

After a divorce, Germaine moved back to Salem with her son. She went to business college and had an assortment of jobs before finally settling into an administrative aide position with the Salem Municipal Water Department.

In 1978 Germaine relocated to Sisters to care for her elderly father, Ray Eyerly (a noted local artist) and receive mentoring from him in her pursuit of her own art career.

After Ray’s passing in 1980, Germaine decided to remain in Sisters. She spent the next 20 years doing various jobs around Sisters, working as a nanny, caretaker and cleaning woman.

Germaine retired in 1997, yet continued with her art work.

Germaine was a talented artist in many different mediums.

She loved art, animals, cooking, gardening and good mystery stories.

She is survived by her sister, Paddy Sue Johnson, of Downieville, CA and her son, Douglas Eugene Kaufman Jr., of Sisters.

Memorial Services will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration on February 19 at 1 p.m.

Germaine’s son requests that memorial donations be made to either Sisters Habitat for Humanity or the Central Oregon Humane Society.