Pauline M. Mefford

Pauline McKee Mefford, age 94, of Knoxville, Tenn., passed away Wednesday, February 28, 2024, after a brief illness. She was born in Nevada, Iowa, on July 2, 1929, to her parents, Nellie Halberstadt McKee and Kenneth McKee. Pauline grew up in various cities across the United States before settling in Phoenix, Ariz., and graduated from Phoenix Union High School in 1947.

Pauline met the love of her life, John Mefford, in 1951, and they married on New Year’s Eve of the same year. Together, they raised a family, and in later years, they enjoyed traveling, gardening, and visiting family across the country.

Pauline lived most of her adult life in Phoenix until joining her daughter and family in Knoxville, Tenn., in 2019. The oldest of three sisters, Pauline loved to plan the family's annual Christmas party, which continues to this day. The beach was her happy place, and she enjoyed raising her two children and their friends on beach vacations as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Pauline was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who always helped her family members be the best they could be.

Pauline was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 66 years, John Mefford, son Richard Alan Mefford, and son-in-law Andy Rymer. She is survived by her daughter, Gail Rymer, grandchildren Kelli Krise, and Daniel Ward (Alison), and three great-grandchildren, Mikko Krise, Elizabeth Ward, and Kaden Krise, sisters, Violet Joralmon and Dorothy Butler, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, starting at 10 a.m. at Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary Chapel, 719 N. 27th Avenue, Phoenix, Ariz. 85009. Funeral services follow at the same location at 11 a.m., with burial at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, 2300 West Van Buren Street, Phoenix, Ariz. 85009, following the service.