Kathleen West

May 28, 1925 - August 31, 2023

Kathleen West, daughter of William H. West, Mother Nellie Blanch Watters, was born May 28, 1925, in Grand Island, Nebraska. She passed into the arms of her Lord at her home in Dallas, Texas on Aug. 31, 2023, where she was surrounded by loving family, friends, and caregivers.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her Father William H. West, Mother Nellie Blanch Watters West, and Sisters: Kathryn West (twin), Jean Helen West Hall, Roxana Louise West Ferris Edwards, and Brothers: John William West, and Robert Fredrick West.

The West family moved from Nebraska to Redwater, Texas in the early 1930s when Kathleen was five years old. There were six kids in the family: two older sisters, Jean, and Roxie, two brothers Jack, and Bobby, and then her twin sister Kathryn. They had fun living out in the country as children. She would regale the family with stories of cutting through pastures and avoiding upsetting the bulls while taking the shortcut, memories of nurturing a kitchen garden, sounds of the gifts of the family musicians, and playing lots and lots of cards.

Kathleen's family frequently moved around. She lived in a few East Texas towns, Gladewater, TX (out near Longview) and Friendship, TX just outside of Red Water or Texarkana. The family then moved to Texarkana during the WWII housing crisis, where the twins ultimately graduated from Texarkana High School. During the WWII housing crisis, Bowie Courts was home to not only the twins with their mother and father but also, her sister Jean Hall with her three young sons while her husband was off in the war, and sister Roxanna's family with her young son Mike. The boys, now men, have fond memories of the time with the twins and of the care the teenage girls showed them, despite being youths themselves. Right out of High School both Twins were employed by the telephone company as switchboard operators.

After WWII, the West family moved to Galveston and Kathleen began to work in accounting and banking. The bank in Galveston was sad to see her move to Dallas and told her if wanted a job, go to the Mercantile Bank. The bank President in Galveston gave her a letter of recommendation, which she still had in her dressing table drawer. Following the death of their father in 1948, the twin and their mother moved to Dallas in August of 1950 to be closer to family. After their move, the following Monday, she applied for a job and the very next day she went to work at the Mercantile Bank where she worked at various locations for 36 years, including one downtown office in the old Magnolia Building. The twins and their mother lived in an apartment on Grafton and then bought their Rosemont Bungalow in May of 1953.

As children of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and WWII, the twins went through life often taking care of others. Especially, their mother Blanch until she passed in 1983. Kathleen would say quite unremarkably of her selflessness, "It's just what you do". Neither Kathleen nor Kathryn married. Kathleen would say, "We had each other and that was enough." But the twins were also blessed with the love of fifteen nieces and nephews to whom Kathryn and Kathleen were very close and to whom the twins generously remembered on holidays. This of course over the years extended to great nieces and nephews.

The twin's historic Winnetka Heights bungalow had a family famous cookie jar that was always filled with various homemade treats, crisp sugar cookies, and ice box cookies. Their house was a regular stop during the holidays and special occasions. So much so that during the hot August summer of 1957, their lovely, manicured backyard hosted the rehearsal dinner for their nephew Pat's wedding.

After 36 years of service and several corporate name changes, (Mercantile Bank would go on to become Chase Bank), Kathleen retired from the Trust department of the bank in 1986. But retirement didn't mean it was time to be idle to Kathleen!

After their long professional careers, the twins often took vacations in their retirement, driving to see various parts of the country. Kathleen often traveled with her siblings to destinations like the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Alaska, car trips to a Tennessee cabin to meet up with family, Ohio to visit her brother and family, and many of our country's National Parks. Kit & Kat both believed there was so much beauty here in the U.S. they didn't need to travel beyond. They also were known to take a niece on occasion to see this great country—such sweet memories.

Among many other activities, Kathleen kept busy reading the paper every day, working the puzzle every morning, enjoying yard work, volunteering with the church, participating in neighborhood crime watch, helping with neighborhood clean-up activities, allowing the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League form the neighborhood Historic Society, walking once a week with the Walking Club at Methodist Hospital, going on weekly outings with her friends, traveling with friends and family, and quietly beating the pants off of everyone at dominoes or canfield.

Regardless of the activity, at the center of Kathleen's life was her faith, her family, and her church. After relocating to Oak Cliff in the 50s, the twins became members of Tyler Street Methodist Church. They generously supported the charitable works of the church community for many years. They participated in Sunday School classes, helped with food drives, and school supply drives, with sewing clothes for the Tyler Street students, made clothes for missions work, and wrapped Christmas presents for less fortunate families - there weren't many works they would say no to helping with over the years.

At the time of her passing, Kathleen was the oldest active member of her church and a steady and constant inspiration to her congregation. Her 70-year membership is just an example of how steadfast in her faith and faith community she was. She was richly blessed by the love of her many church friends, neighbors, and extended family who visited and loved her. But Kathleen was a blessing and a gift to us all as she modeled faith walking through life. By living deeply with no worries and living with no fear of death, she showed us how to cherish every day, to love, and to never miss an opportunity to enjoy a good piece of pie.

Every time Kathleen selflessly took the time to love and support others and to make them feel special, little did she know how that love would grow exponentially and come right back to her. She touched all who were blessed to experience that grace and the infinite circle of love she sparked just by being Kathleen.

Kathleen leaves her thumbprint on us all, an indelible, unfading mark of love and faith - and that is the greatest gift and legacy of her long and beautiful life and her big generous selfless heart.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, September 15, 2023 at Tyler Street United Methodist Church. Graveside Service and Interment to follow at Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Texas.

To view livestream service please copy and paste the following link to your search engine

https://www.facebook.com/p/Jeter-Son-Funeral-Home-100057484328661/