Lorie Guffey Ward

Died: Oct. 7, 2012

Lorie Guffey Ward, age 48, of Greeneville, passed away Sunday evening at Signature HealthCARE of Greeneville after a brief stay. Earlier in the month she had been a patient at Laughlin Memorial Hospital.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2011, and throughout the months following, it spread to other areas of her body. The most devastating was the discovery of a brain tumor on May 3, 2012.

Lorie was born on April 7, 1964, in Johnson City, TN, to Polly and Charles Guffey. Sadly, he was killed in a car accident in October 1966.

Lorie graduated from Greeneville High School in 1982. She was a member of the Greeneville High School Band and served as drum major her senior year. She loved sports and played volleyball and softball.

Lorie loved music and art. She was very active in the Little Theatre of Greeneville, Inc., having leading roles in several productions. She also served on the board of directors for a number of years.

She was a gifted artist in pastels, water color, and oil. She gave many of her paintings to friends as gifts.

She loved nature and had a great love for animals, never rejecting a stray animal. She once said "they just seem to find me."

Her greatest sunshine was her two little nieces, Anna and Katie Willett. They brightened her day just with a smile.

Lorie's faith was Church of God and she was baptized by the Rev. Jim Fillers.

Survivors include her mother: Polly McAfee; one sister: April Willett and her husband, Matt Willett; two nieces, whom she loved so dearly: Anna and Katie Willett; one stepsister: Cynthia McAfee Clark and her husband, Steve, and their sons: Chris and Adam Clark; an aunt: Mary Sue Fann of Greeneville; an uncle: Horace Effler of Greeneville; and many cousins throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, and Michigan.

She also leaves behind her Wal-Mart associates, managers, assistant managers and special friends ,including: her former husband, Jerry Ward; Alex Wilburn, Vicki Williams, Melonie Blair, Mattie Combs, Richard Cobble, Mike Mitchell, Lisa Mathes, Nancy Warner, Jackie Bowman, and Belinda Lehan; a former neighbor and friend: "Mom" Shirley; and her special village family at Woodridge Apartments.

In addition to her biological father, she was preceded in death by her stepfather: A.T. McAfee Jr.; maternal grandparents: Bill and Georgia Hale; paternal grandparents: Mary and J.C. Guffey; stepgrandparents: Alvie and Zola McAfee; uncle: Donald E. Hale; and aunt: Bertha Effler.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home with the funeral service following at 8 o'clock in the chapel. The Rev. Jim Fillers will officiate.

Private interment will be in GreeneLawn Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Greeneville-Greene County Humane Society, P.O. Box 792, Greeneville, TN 37744.

The family would like to express a special thanks to Dr. Dharmen Patel, Dr. John C. Boys, Dr. Katherine Gray, Dr. Steven Prince, Dr. Rodney Holladay, the 4-East staff of Laughlin Memorial Hospital, the staff of Signature HealthCARE, and the staff of Caris Hospice.