Ellen L Barnes Bruggeman

                                                 September 19, 1933 - September 11, 2017  Age 83

Ellen was born Ellen Louise Shettles in Pickles Gap (Conway), Arkansas, The only child of Vernon and Mary Shettles. She grew up in Little Rock Arkansas where she met Bill Barnes at the community college. They were married in 1953. Bill had his sights set on an engineering degree at Georgia Tech. They moved to Atlanta where Ellen started her secretarial career at Mead Paper Company. She was proud of her shorthand and typing speed.

After Bill graduated, he became a job-shop engineer. Ellen and the family of 2 girls and 2 boys began moving. They lived in Mississippi, Louisiana, and North Carolina before moving to Richland in 1973. Bill continued traveling for work while Ellen was happily working for Westinghouse. Their marriage dissolved in 1978. Ellen retired from Westinghouse in 1994.

Ellen enjoyed annual beach trips, birthdays and scores of other events with her girlfriends: Marge Hogue,  Jean Brown and Jeanne Clark. She and Jean Brown were season ticket holders of the Tri-City Americans for years. She had been a member of the Golf Bags women's golf league at the Columbia Park par 3 course where she made a hole in one! She was also a member of The Red Hat Society and Rambling Rovers. Trips to casinos were a favorite event.

When Ellen married Larry in 2004 she gained the brothers and sisters she never had, including Del and Patti Bruggeman, Earl and Judy Bruggeman, and Jim and Linda Bruggeman. She enjoyed the trips and reunions.

Her giving spirit led her to volunteer for 20 years at Kadlec Medical Center Auxiliary. She and Larry manned the Giving Tree at the Mall for the Salvation Army. She also gave to Safe Harbor, The Pregnancy Network, The Tri-City Mission and The Chaplaincy. Ellen took great pleasure in making up the Christmas boxes for Samaritan's Purse, Operation Christmas Child.

Ellen is survived by her husband Lawrence (Larry) Bruggeman of Kennewick, daughter Kathy Botu of Kennewick, sons; John Barnes (Karen) of Houston, Texas and Wyn Barnes of San Jose, California. Also surviving are her grandchildren: Freya Vaughn of Kyoto, Japan; Jeff Brazel of Silverdale, Wa.; Julia, Brian and Amy Barnes of Houston, Texas.  And two great grandchildren, Julius and Maxwell of Kyoto Japan. Also her rather large, tabby cat, Winnie. Her parents, Bill Barnes and daughter, Karen predeceased her.

The family would like to thank Dr. Kahirimbanyi and staff, Dr. Onuorah and staff, the staff at Pasco Davita and the staff at Hawthorne Court for their loving care given to Ellen. We are grateful for the care and respect given by her Chaplaincy Hospice Care Team in her last days. Thank You!

A celebration of Ellen's life will be held at Einan's Event Center, 915 By-Pass Hwy, Richland, Washington on October 1, 2017 at 1:00 with reception following. There will be time for sharing stories at the reception.