Pawnee — Tandra Jo Murphy, 52, of Springfield, formerly of Pawnee, died Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, at her home. Tandra was born Dec. 25, 1963, in Springfield, the daughter of Thomas B. and Joan Birkhimer Murphy. She married Cynthia Newenham on March 13, 2015, in Springfield. Tandra was preceded in death by her father in 2008; her grandparents, John and Fredda Birkhimer and Roy and Naomi Murphy; her father-in-law, Charles Newenham Jr.; her brother-in-law, Charles Newenham III; and sister-in-law Jill Smith. Tandra graduated from Pawnee High School in 1981 and earned an associate degree in business from Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield. She attended Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, on a volleyball scholarship. Tandra was sales manager at her brother's bakery, kak Bakery, in Phoenix, Arizona, where she used her natural talent to create one-of-a-kind confectionary masterpieces. She also worked at Horace Mann in Springfield for 14 years. Tandra was a happy and positive person who had a gift for making people laugh. She could connect with people on any level and displayed great patience with everyone she encountered. She embraced life and lived it to the fullest — always ready to search out new adventures. Tandra is survived by her wife, Cynthia, of Springfield; her mother, Joan, of Rochester; two brothers, Dr. John Tom (wife, Dr. Elizabeth Dunn) Murphy of South Bend, Indiana, and Jay T. Murphy of Phoenix; one sister, Jill L. (husband, Gene) Crowl, of Rochester; her mother-in-law, Edith (Peg) Newenham of Springfield; one sister-in-law, Shelly (husband, Rod) Hughes, of Springfield; two aunts, Barb and Nancy; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Tandra's family will meet friends from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, at the Curry Funeral Home in Pawnee. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 21, at the funeral home with Pastor Kres Lipscomb officiating. Burial will follow at Horse Creek Cemetery in Pawnee. Tandra's family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Laurent Brard, Lorie Sporrer and the staff at the Simmons Cancer Institute. Memorials honoring Tandra may be made to a charity of your choice.