Kelly L. Vieira

Kelly L. Vieira, 40; always put her kids first

Kelly L. Vieira's calendar at work was covered in sticky-note reminders for her daughter Chandree's summer wedding that she was helping plan.

Kelly centered recent family vacations around her daughter Crystle's basketball tournaments in Florida, Tennessee and Washington, D.C. "She traveled all over, wherever her daughter went," said Kelly's father, John Richmond. "She just enjoyed following her children and encouraging them."

One of Kelly's happiest moments was when Crystle scored 37 points last month to lead West Warwick High School's team to a 72-60 win over Warwick Veterans Memorial High School.

Friends and family agree that Kelly Vieira, 40, of Silverwood Lane in West Warwick, was dedicated to her daughters, always putting them first.

She looked forward to things slowing down following Crystle's high school graduation and Chandree's wedding.

"This was going to be her first year when she would use her vacations for her," said coworker Doreen L. Gulley. Kelly used to say, "After that, now it's time for Scott and I."

Kelly and her husband, Scott, were high school sweethearts. She was a majorette at Case High School, in Swansea, and he was a student at Durfee High School, in Fall River. They both attended school sporting events.

On Valentine's Day this year, they celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary.

Kelly went to beautician school after high school to become a hairdresser like her late mother, Sandra Richmond. After a few years as a hairdresser, she went back to school, to the Community College of Rhode Island, and became a physical therapist assistant. For the last six years, she had worked at Orthopedic Associates, in Cranston.

The Station was a family hangout for the Vieiras, who lived about a mile from the club. Scott occasionally helped out at the club, and was working security the night of the Great White concert. He escaped uninjured. Kelly died March 1 at Boston Shriners Hospital.

Photographs taken by someone inside the club moments before the fire started show Kelly standing near the stage, friends said.

"She loved rock 'n' roll," Gulley said. "That was her music."

-- Paul Edward Parker, Providence Journal staff