Catherine Maud Tatum (Kaufmann)'s Obituary
Catherine K. Tatum, age 82, passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 14, 2026, after a valiant struggle with Multiple Sclerosis. Her passing leaves a great emptiness in the hearts of her family and friends. Catherine was born in Birmingham, Alabama to Herbert Carl Kaufmann and Hazel Glaze Kaufmann. She is predeceased by her parents and siblings: Frances Evelyn Scott, Andrew Joseph Kaufmann and Robert Carl Kaufmann. She is survived by nieces, Susan Henderson (Mike) and Kathryn Kaufmann; nephews: Alan Scott, Stephen Scott (Alison), Andy Kaufmann (Tina), Tom Kaufmann (Ann) and David Kaufmann (Mary Grace), and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews.
Catherine graduated from Tarrant High School (Tarrant, Alabama) and attended Jacksonville State University. She worked for GMAC and retired from IBM after a number of years of service; she received many outstanding achievement awards while employed at IBM. Catherine lived in Birmingham, Cincinnati and New York City, and later made Tulsa, Oklahoma her permanent home. While living in Tulsa, Catherine obtained her real estate license and was a very successful real estate agent with McGraw Realtors. She truly enjoyed selling real estate and many of her clients became life-long friends.
Catherine helped with many organizations and programs, some of which were Life Senior Services of Tulsa, Youth Services of Tulsa and the Assistance League for Tulsa Public Schools, assisting with reading programs for students. Catherine had a wonderful passion for animal rescue. Chrissy, one of her many rescues, is now a special service friend in the office at the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals.
Catherine's family would like to thank special friends, JJ and Joe, for their wonderful friendship and their true devotion to Catherine in her struggles with MS. The family also would like to thank her caregivers: Carol, April, Ari and Cadence, and her Hospice Nurse, Chris for their excellent and outstanding care for Catherine.
A family service for Catherine will be held in Birmingham, Alabama. If you wish to make a donation in her memory, please consider the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals or a charity of your choice.
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