Dorothy "Jeanette" West

Dorothy Jeanette West, 81 passed away peacefully on July 11, 2023 at Springmoor Life Care Community in Raleigh, NC after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She will be remembered as a loving mother, sister, and musician. She spent many hours at the keys of her beloved Steinway Baby Grand piano. Jeanette was active in the Methodist church, working part time as a church organist and participating in many vocal and bell choirs. As a lifelong learner and educator, she was also an active member of PEO, and volunteered as an ESL teacher at Springmoor. She took up Tai Chi after receiving the Parkinson’s diagnosis.

Born in Kingsport, TN, Jeanette grew up in Kingsport and in Longview, TX. She attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where she met Larry West. They were married in 1964. After graduating with a degree in English, she taught high school French while Larry was in the Air Force. After spending time raising her two children, Jeanette worked as an administrator at various colleges and universities. Together with Larry and their daughters, Jeanette lived in Dallas, TX, Waco, TX, Enid, OK, Fulton, MO, Maryville, TN, Greensboro, NC, and Greencastle, IN. She returned to Raleigh, NC after Larry’s death.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law Kay and Ray Toole, daughter Rebecca and her husband Darrell Crews, daughter Alyson West and her partner Phil Wintermute, and grandchildren Haleigh and Cameron Crews, and Walter Boothe. She was preceded in death by husband Larry M. West (1940- 2000), and parents John and Freda Kimble.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, August 2nd, at 11am at Springmoor Retirement Community Auditorium, 1500 Sawmill Rd. Raleigh, NC.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or the Davis Phinney Foundation.