Matthew Monroe Kauffman, 40, beloved son of Lura G. and Carl H. Kauffman, died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014. Matthew was a native of Nashville, Tenn. and a resident of Daphne.
In Nashville he attended Ensworth School and Bellevue Middle School. He graduated from Hillwood High School, where he was a member of the marching and concert bands.
After graduation, Matthew held various jobs in Nashville until 2000 when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
Matthew did his basic training at Parris Island, S.C., serving as his training platoon squad leader and earned the Marine Corps Rifle Sharpshooter Badge. He finished as second place Honor Man in his platoon and trained as a linguist and interpreter at the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey, Calif.
After further training in cryptology he was assigned to be a linguist/interpreter of Spanish and Creole French for the National Security Agency based in Fort Meade, Md. Matthew served faithfully there for five years attaining the rank of corporal. During this period Matthew was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Award, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Joint Service Achievement Medal for the National Security Agency.
Upon leaving the service he spent a year working for the Lockeed-Martin Corp. as a researcher/analyst.
This was followed by a career with Books-A-Million, where he started as a salesperson and during the next six years worked his way up to becoming a general manager. Matthew first became a BAM general manager at the newly opened BAM store in Spanish Fort. He transferred back to Nashville to become the general manager of the BAM store on Charlotte Pike.
Throughout his life Matthew was an avid reader and writer of poetry and short stories. He enjoyed sculpting miniatures out of cork and was an accomplished sketch artist.
He had an eclectic taste in authors as well as in music and had a beautiful singing voice.
He enjoyed cooking unusual dishes and was very fond of growing and cooking with hot peppers.
He owned and trained two Doberman pinschers (Jaunty Mr. Loki, and Dr. Faustus), who loved and obeyed his commands.
He is survived by his parents, Lura and Carl Kauffman; sister, Rebecca Kauffman; aunt, Diana Kauffman Carpenter; uncle, Richard Carpenter; cousins, Adam, David and Lauren Carpenter; and numerous friends who loved him like a brother.
Burial was Monday, Dec. 29, 2014 at Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Bellevue, Tenn.
Arrangements by Marshall Donnelly Combs, Nashville, Tenn.
