Jerry West's Obituary
On December 9, 2023, Jerry West passed away at Select Specialty Hospital in Grand Rapids. For the first time ever, He can be referred to as the “late” Jerry West. He was the kind of guy who showed up an hour early for work and 15 minutes early for your party. Jerry was born in Muskegon Heights, MI on July 14, 1935, to Ruth Zelda Robidoux and Earl Ronald West. His parents were divorced in 1940 and Jerry was raised primarily by his mother and stepfather, Elmer Knapp, on a farm in Fremont before moving back to Muskegon Heights during his high school years. Jerry left high school early, joining the Air Force and serving on Okushiri Island, Japan, until his discharge in 1956.
Jerry was employed by Shaw-Walker when he suffered a minor injury to a finger, landing him in Mercy Hospital for a few weeks. There, he became acquainted with a medical technician named Carol Doreen Barrett, a Scottville native. She ultimately succumbed to his charms and on April 6, 1957, they were married in the Scottville First Methodist Church. Never one to waste time, exactly 9 months later, they welcomed their first child, Daniel Lee. Terry Alan followed 18 months later.
Jerry and Carol moved to Scottville in 1960 where Jerry was employed by Michigan Milk Producers, The Scottville Police Department and Mason County Central Schools as a bus driver. While living in Scottville, they welcomed their youngest child, Kimberly Ann. Jerry accepted a job at DuPont in Montague, where the family relocated for two years before moving to their home for the past 55 years in Laketon Township.
After a large lay-off at DuPont, Jerry worked for Newkirk Electric as their office manager at the Ludington Pump Storage Project before becoming the body shop manager at Matson Oldsmobile, Cadillac, and Datsun. He ultimately retired as an estimator for State Farm Insurance in 1996.
Jerry was a kind, dependable, hardworking man who was loved by all who knew him and was always willing and able to lend a hand both at work and with family and friends. Jerry didn’t hunt, fish, bowl, or ski. His hobbies included loving his family, helping others, and meticulously tending to his lawn. Jerry and Carol shared the household chores as Carol was also employed throughout their marriage until retiring with Jerry in 1996. He enjoyed cooking, especially on his grill or deep-frying perch using a secret family recipe. He loved his home, and it took a lot for Carol to get him to travel out of West Michigan. She was, however, successful in convincing him to spend several winters in Florida near Ft. Myers, where Terry was living at the time.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jack and Robert; and son, Terry. He is survived by the love of his life, Carol; children, Daniel (Kay Somerville), Kimberly (John Corrigan), and Terry’s widow, Lou Ann Christensen. He was blessed with grandchildren, Elizabeth Anne West, Daniel Lee West, Jr., Heather Lynn Hayes, Christina Carol Hayes, and Barrett Lee West as well as great grandchildren, Carson Morse and Ella Morse.
A MEMORIAL SERVICE will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services (6291 Harvey Street, Norton Shores, MI. 49445) with Pastor Bill Fillmore officiating. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS can be made in Jerry’s honor to a charity of your choice. To share special memories with the family, please visit www.sytsemafh.com.
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