After a wonderful life of 103 years, we have lost our mother, grandmother, great grandmother aunt, and best friend.

Mattie Lorena (Lorraine) was born in Pensacola, NC, on June 12, 1919, to Charles David Buchanan and Bessie Lee Putnam Buchanan, she was the 6 ^th child of a family of 9 children. She grew up in a small railroad and cotton mill town. Her father was an engineer on the Clinchfield and CC and O Railroad line and worked jobs moving tobacco, cotton, rice, coal, and timber. She remembered living in converted railroad coaches as her father moved where he was needed.

She attended school in Clinchfield-Marion, NC, before coming with the family to the state of WA. In 1949, she met and married the true inspiration of her life, Carroll "Robbie" Robideau. They made their home in Newhalem where she worked for Seattle City Light as a hostess, and later manager of Gorge Inn and Diablo Inn in charge of Seattle City Light Tours. The highlight of their life was the birth of their daughter, Lenna Renee. After 30 years of working in Newhalem, they retired and made their home in Sedro-Woolley and Mount Vernon.

Lorraine lost her beloved husband in 2005, and she moved to Camano Island with her daughter and son-in-law, Jerry and Lenna Cutshall. In 2012, she moved to Mountain Glen Retirement Center.

She was a direct descendent of Colonel Israel Putnam, who was famous for saying "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes".

Lorraine is survived by her daughter, Lenna Cutshall; grandchildren Tiffany (Paul) Holm, Ryan (Colette) Pyatte, and Susan (Marshall) Basham; great grandchildren Jordan and Riley Rabelos, Ryder and Caleigh Pyatte, Skye Kate, PJ, and Oskar Holm. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, as well as dear friend, Terry and Vici Monroe, and Earl and Joanne Hyler.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her husband Carroll (Robbie) Robideau; son-in-law Jerry Cutshall; sisters Eva Hendrix, Helen York, Winnie Martin, and Virginia Buchanan; brothers Roy Buchanan, Burgess Buchanan, Frank Buchanan, and Arthur Buchanan; parents Charles David Buchanan and Bessie Lee Putnam Buchanan.

Donations may be made to Mountain Glen Retirement Center or Hospice of the Northwest.