Profiles of Life: Loretta M. Richard

Loretta Richard will be greatly missed by her family, but her eldest daughter, Sharon Richard, is taking solace in that the last few months were among the most joyful of her mother's life.

Loretta, 60, died from injuries she suffered in Monday's tornado. She was visiting her friend, Noah Fish Jr., at his Del City residence when the twister struck.

"The last few months were the happiest I'd seen her in a long time," Sharon Richard said. "I really liked Noah, because he treated my mom like a queen."

Fish also died when the tornado demolished his home.

Sharon Richard's daughter, Tiffany Carter, 11, was with her grandmother when the tornado struck. Everyone took shelter under a stairway in the home. Carter and Fish's daughter, Chelsea, 12, survived the storm.

Carter was released from Midwest Regional Hospital on Friday. Loretta Richard, who lived in Oklahoma City, was employed at Tinker Air Force Base. She worked at the base exchange.

She was a native of Newfoundland, Canada, and came to the United States in 1962. Loretta Richard moved to Oklahoma 10 years ago.

Richard was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, and also is survived by two sons, Carl and Daniel, who is in the Air Force and stationed in Japan. She has relatives in Canada.

Loretta loved to go dancing - "any kind of dancing. She just liked to have fun," Sharon said. "She was the most caring person you'll ever meet. She was always there for everyone when they needed her. And she always had a smile on her face.

"My mom was the best mom anybody could have."

- Bob Cramer