Emma Lorraine "Lori" Vietz Barraclough of West Richland, WA, passed away July 29 at the age of 64, the same way she had lived her life, with courage, strength and grace, after years of bravely battling COPD and finally lung cancer. Lori was born in 1949 in Billings, Montana, and raised her three daughters in Lewistown, Montana before moving to Tri-Cities, Washington in the early 90's. Lori loved spending time with her family. She was always the one taking pictures of friends and family and she could always make people smile. She enjoyed music and liked going to blues festivals where she and her husband Bearclaw made many friends over the years. She had a very fun-loving and generous spirit and had a special way of always making those around her feel good because of her down-to-earth way of loving and accepting people just as they were.
Lori is survived by her husband Steve "Bearclaw" Barraclough, her mother Doris Elaine Hawkins Nelson, her daughters Laura Mike Nelson McCafferty, Mary Larry Vietz Johnson, and Pamela Vietz; her grandchildren Danie and Brittany McCafferty, Brooklyn and Blake Hodge, Alex and Carson Johnson, and Ariel Anderson; her sisters Cheryl Nelson Goffena and Linette McErlain Halverson, and her brother Neil Nelson, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her father Edwin McErlain, her stepdad Francis "Jack" Nelson, and her brothers Gene "Nick" Nelson, David McErlain, and Michael McErlain. A celebration of life gathering is planned and the family will announce the details at a future time.