Tribute | Dee Ann Chaffin was a caring nurse who enjoyed working around schoolchildren

A caring career: Chaffin seemed destined for a career that allowed her to care for others, so becoming a nurse came as no surprise to her older sister, Jane Phelps. Chaffin received her degree in nursing from the University of Kansas in 1979 and later a master’s degree in the profession. For the past five years, Chaffin was the school nurse at Santa Fe Elementary School in the Shawnee Mission School District. “She was an unbelievable nurse and friend,” Earlier this year, Chaffin was recognized as school nurse of the year in the school district. Devoted sisters: Although three years separated them in age, Chaffin and Phelps were close friends. When Chaffin was in junior high and her sister was in high school, their friendship blossomed. “She had her friends and I had mine, but we were all friends together.” “She had piercing blue eyes that could distill life quickly.” “She was always in the moment and enjoyed life at that moment,” “She went through chemo so she could have extra time with her sons,”