Lori Sue Erickson Veach

Lori Sue Erickson Veach was born in Hampton, Iowa on February 12, 1959, to Robert William Erickson and Shirley Ann Erickson. Lori was born with an older sister Cindy and an older brother Eric. A younger brother Bill came along a few years later. 

In Hampton junior high and high school, Lori was active in school as a cheerleader, class officer, and in the student council. Lori graduated from Hampton High School in 1977. Lori attended the University of Northern Iowa and graduated in May 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration majoring in marketing. In addition to the many friends Lori made throughout her school years, her best friend throughout her school years and after was Kim Vogel (Kim Vogel Montalvo). After Lori’s graduation, she traveled to Seattle Washington where she stayed with an Aunt and Uncle. Boeing was not hiring at the time so Lori ultimately returned to Iowa in 1981 and joined Kim in an adventure moving to Dallas, Texas in 1982 where Lori would enjoy working for The Lomas and Nettleton Company in the Bond Administration and Legal Departments until 1989. There Lori met her future husband Robert (Bob) R. Veach, Jr. They dated for several years and were married in the First Congregational Church U.C.C. in Hampton, Iowa on May 27, 1989. Bob was a partner in a large law firm in Dallas, but with Lori’s encouragement, he opened a solo business law practice in 1998. Due in no small part to Lori’s love, support and inspiration, Bob was awarded the prestigious Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. 

Lori was a loving, caring and devoted wife to Bob and she was his constant companion, best friend, inspiration, motivation and love of his life. There was never a day that they did not say to each other - I love you. Lori and Bob enjoyed travel, cruises and especially trips to Nebraska and Iowa to visit family. Lori loved to plan road trips for them to see “places that they’d never been” including the birthplace and golf course of Willie Nelson and many trips to Luckenbach. Lori told Bob she would never leave him for anyone except Willie Nelson so for Lori’s birthday in 2014 Bob got stage side seats for Willie’s concert in Dallas and asked Willie by online link – identifying the location of their seats - to wink at her. Lori believed he did and when Bob went up to the stage at the end of the concert with Willie’s book Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die for an autograph and to thank him for the wink, Willie reached out and shook Bob’s hand! Lori was so excited she missed taking a picture of the handshake.

Lori loved evaluating commercials from a marketing perspective but she hardly needed the coursework to find new friends everywhere she went. Her smile, quick wit and pleasant demeanor were captivating to all who met her. Lori and Bob enjoyed a home in Dallas and in 1990 they had a log cabin second home constructed on their ranch property in Lampasas County Texas. In Dallas, Lori enjoyed gardening and crafts and in the country, Lori enjoyed bird watching and inspired Bob to place more than 24 nest boxes for eastern bluebirds and other songbirds around the ranch. Their many bird feeders attracted a great variety of birds which Lori and Bob enjoyed trying to identify. Lori especially loved Painted Buntings, Eastern Blue Birds and bright red Northern Cardinals.

Lori enjoyed cooking, reading and sharing recipes, cross-stitch, sewing, making quilts, watching anything with Andy Griffith and staying ahead of Bob in their Gin Rummy tournament that started more than 25 years ago. Lori used a professional scroll saw to make Christmas ornaments and hand-decorated them. Lori also enjoyed taking photos of hummingbirds, songbirds and flowers and using her photo editor to enhance them. Lori decorated two of their guest rooms at the ranch for Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt with many pictures and books about them. 

In 2011 Lori was diagnosed with cancer and after chemo and radiation treatments in 2011 and 2012 Lori managed to continue to enjoy life until February 9, 2022 when she died in the emergency room at Advent Health Central Texas Hospital. Lori was preceded in death by her grandparents and her parents, Robert William and Shirley Ann Erickson; her brother Eric’s wife, Coralee Erickson; Bob’s parents, Robert R. and Evelyn A. Veach; Bob’s sister, Vicki (Veach) Rogers; and her brother Bill and Lynne’s son A.J. Erickson. Lori and Bob had several pets over the years that Lori loved, including a miniature dachshund Missy, a Rhodesian Ridgeback/Labrador Retriever Ridgeway, a gas station adopted Border collie puppy Charmin and Charmin’s unplanned eight puppies which Lori helped Charmin deliver under Bob and Lori’s bed in 1992. One of those puppies was Ginger who lived for 15 years at Bob and Lori’s side as their constant companion and best pet and friend of all.

Lori is survived by her husband Bob; her Sister Cindy (Erickson) Van Wert and her husband Rex and their children Robin, Angela, Shannon and Tim and their spouses and children; her brother Eric Robert Erickson and his children Erica and Nathan and their spouses and children; her brother William Erickson and his wife Lynne and their son Christopher; her Uncle Ken Woodley and his wife Linda and their family; Bob’s Sister Barbara (Veach) Weitz and her husband Wally and their children, Katie, Roger and Andrew and their spouses and children; and Bob’s sister Vicki’s husband Michael Rogers and his family. Lori’s survivors include many beloved nephews, nieces, cousins and great-nephews and great-nieces, her life-long friend and her Father’s late-life partner, Beth Witherup; and Lori’s best friend, Kim Montalvo and her husband Monty and their children Alex, Valerie, Matthew and Bob’s God Daughter, Margarita. Lori is also survived by many, many friends of hers and Bob.

Memorials in Lori’s name may be directed to the First Congregational Church U.C.C. in Hampton, Iowa, Operation Kindness, a no-kill pet shelter in Dallas or to your favorite pet shelter or cancer charity. Memorial services will be held in Dallas and Iowa at a future date. A private service will be held at the Sneed-Carnley Funeral Home, Lampasas, Texas.