Claude West

Claude “Skip” West, 91, Sugar Creek, MO went to meet his Heavenly Father Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012. Services will be 2 pm, Monday, Feb. 20 at Carson-Speaks Chapel, 1501 W. Lexington Ave., Independence, MO 64052; interment at Mt. Washington Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 1 pm before the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Mt. Washington Baptist Church Missions Fund, 9623 E. Independence Ave., Independence, MO 64050.
Skip was born Sept. 20, 1920 in Weatherby, MO to William Harmon and Florence Amy West. He married Mary Margaret Gannon on Dec. 24, 1941. He was inducted into the Army and entered active service on Aug. 28, 1942. He served twenty-seven months in the Aleutian Islands reaching the rank of Master Sgt. He was awarded a Bronze Star for the Aleutian Islands Campaign, a Good Conduct Medal and was a Lifetime member of the VFW Post #3976 in Sugar Creek. Skip retired from Haven’s Steel in 1986 where he also served as Union Steward for Ironworkers Local #520.
Skip accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of thirteen and remained a faithful servant his entire life. He was an ordained deacon and active member at Mt. Washington Baptist Church for over sixty-five years. He served as Deacon Chairman, Trustee and Sunday School Director. One of Dad’s & Mom’s great joys was traveling throughout the country in their trailer and they had visited all of the states except two. Their other delight in life was their family and the close relationships which their example fostered and has served our families well.
Skip was preceded in death by his wife Mary Margaret, a sister and four brothers. He is survived by sons Charles West and wife Glenna; Gary West and wife Terri; daughter Mary Kathryn Green and husband Mike; grandchildren Kim Lynch, Michael Green and wife Lesley; Jeremy West; Michelle Woods and husband Jesse; Amy Black and husband David; Alex West and wife Pam; great-grandchildren Jacob West; Nathan and Nick Woods; Amber and Mikayla Green; Carter and Keaton Wiley; Max Black; Annali and Tyler West; great-great-grandchildren Keighann and Kaesynn West and many nieces and nephews.