LIFE TRIBUTE – Connie Marie West

Connie Marie West

1924-2020

Connie Marie West was born to Charles and Mary Morrell August 4, 1924, in Kansas City, Missouri, and entered eternal rest November 11, 2020, in Long Beach, California. She was 96 years old.


In 1943, when Connie was 19 years of age, her immediate family had had enough of the harsh winters in Missouri and decided to come to sunny Long Beach, California. It was the first place they had experienced where they could enjoy the snow in the mountains and then drive only two hours to warm up at the beach and smell the nice orange blossoms. At a ball that same year, Connie accepted a dance from a soldier of “six foot two, eyes of blue.” Don West was surely the man of her dreams, and the two became quickly engaged. The couple married in 1944 and shortly after, Don was stationed in Florida in the Navy. They had their first and only child, Ronald West, in 1949.


Connie was devoted to her family, and the highlight of her life was the births of her two granddaughters. Connie loved her cabin in Lytle Creek, bird watching, crossword puzzles “to keep that old brain going,” and her weekly trips to the hair salon followed by a Domino’s thin-crust pizza.


Connie is survived by her son, her daughter-in-law, and her two grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers, and husband.


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Connie enjoyed sharing her love of California with her Kansas City cousins, from concerts in the park, family gatherings to Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm, when I was young. She was always an organizer and was prepared to feed whoever arrived. Connie joined mom and I on a short cruise and a fun Vegas trip. We had fond memories.

With love,
Kathy