Jerri Cleis

Jerri Cleis of Moses Lake passed away peacefully at home on Aug. 11 following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, with her loving husband Chuck by her side as he has always been.

She was born in Emmett, Idaho to Ross and Thora Brittain. Ross worked for the Bureau of Reclamation which brought them to Warden when she was 3 and then on to Moses Lake when she was 5.

After living in the beautiful state of Montana on and off for several years, Jerri and Chuck relocated back to Moses Lake to take advantage of the milder climate and made their home in Cascade Valley.

Jerri loved her family with all her heart. She loved to cook and bake, and there was nothing she couldn’t create or repair with the trusty Kenmore sewing machine she purchased back in 1970 – even replacing the zipper on a huge canvas tent! However, quilting was her biggest passion and many of us in the family have been blessed enough to have her make a quilt (or more than one) just for us. Each quilt was carefully made with the intended recipient’s favorite colors and no two quilts were ever the same. When the opportunity would arise, she loved to go camping and fishing, and even took up big game hunting along the way. Not usually one to be overly adventurous, she did learn to pilot a jet boat and Jerri and Chuck spent many hours in Hell’s Canyon running up and down the Snake River.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ross and Thora Brittain; two brothers Donald Brittain and Stan Brittain; two sisters Ann Wayman and Betty Martin; and two nieces Jackie Yurian and Jeanie Searls. She is survived by her husband of 52 years Chuck Cleis; one daughter “Alexis” Nicole Cleis (wife JoLynn Pederson) of Billings, Montana; three very special nieces Angela Correa of San Antonio, Texas, Heather Bergstrom of Yuba City, California and Jenny McBride of Moses Lake; numerous other nieces and nephews; and one brother, Bryan “Butch” Brittain (wife Stacey Brittain) of Kennewick.

Our deepest thanks and appreciation to Assured Hospice for all the kindness and care provided to Mom during the last week of her life; her personal caregiver, Oralia; and all the fantastic care providers at Samaritan Hospital.

At her request, no service or memorial will be held.