Helen Frances West

Helen Frances Rutledge West, born May 4, 1921, passed away peacefully February 20, 2012 in Show Low, Arizona. Helen was the eleventh of twelve children born to the late Lillie Magnolia White(b. 1877) and John Henry Rutledge(b. 1871) at the family home in Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma, where she spent happy childhood days attending school, working on the family farm and playing with siblings, nieces and nephews. At the early age of 16, she eloped and married Elbie Bogan West, a longtime childhood friend. In 1939 they moved to the California oil fields where Elbie was employed. After the outbreak of WWII, Elbie served in the Army Air Corps. During this time, Helen worked at the May Drug Company. December 21, 1944, their first child, Barbara Louise was born at the Fresno hospital. After the war, Elbie built their first home in Coalinga, California. They lived here until 1952, when they moved to the desert between Buckeye and Gila Bend, Arizona. In 1953 until 1963, they homesteaded 320 acres of desert land, which they developed into a successful ranch and cotton farm where their family grew. May 11, 1955, their son Kenneth Wayne was born in a Phoenix hospital. Helen worked for a time waiting tables, sometimes cooking. When her children were nearly grown, Helen completed nurse's aide training. After completing her training, she and Elbie divorced, although they remained friends until his death in 1979. In 1973, Helen began working for a nursing registry as a home health caregiver. Helen purchased rental units which she managed, maintained, and eventually sold when she retired and moved, in 1985, to Show Low, Arizona where she could be near her daughter, son and grandchildren. One of the great sorrows of her life was losing both of her children to death and she began to feel alone as most of her grandchildren grew up and left the area to make their own life. Over the years she developed dear friendships with neighbors, members of her LDS ward, and those who provided service to her. They have been like family to her. Helen suffered with arthritis, which made gardening and yard work increasingly difficult. She also developed COPD, which took a toll on all of her body systems and eventually took her life. She was immensely grateful for the vigilant and skilled care of Dr. Garskof as well as the nursing care she received from Hospice Compassus. Helen was predeceased by her parents, siblings Felix J (b.1896), Myrtle V Berryhill (b. 1898), Jesse Lee (b. 1901), Charles William (b. 1904), Leona P (b. 1906), Mary E(b. 1910), Floyd (b. 1912), Laura Modene (b. 1913), Gladys Young (b. 1917), Claude (b. 1920), and Dorothy, daughter Barbara Louise McBride, son Kenneth Wayne West, granddaughters, Carol Ann McBride and Kristi Diane McBride (Todd)Williamson. Survivors include her grandchildren: Misty (Dustin) Cross, Dewaine McBride, Emily (Eric) Hancock, Ellen (Brent) Brewer, Brian McBride, David (Tina) McBride, and Laura (Erik) Miller, son in law, Cris (Virginia) McBride and 15 great-grandchildren. A graveside service for Helen will begin 11:00 A.M., Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the Lakeside Cemetery under the care of Owens Livingston Mortuary - White Mountain Chapel. Her Sierra Pines Ward bishop, Bishop Kahauanu Kai, will officiate at her graveside service.