Connie Colleen West

Connie Colleen Simpson-West was born to Rev. Carl and Alba Simpson in Hartshorn, Oklahoma. Carl and Alba had two daughters and five sons, preceding Connie in death were Ella Louise an infant, Ralph (Betty), Vernon (Montene) and Virgil (Karla) she is survived by two bothers Bill (Peggy) and Bob. The Simpson family relocated to California from Oklahoma in 1936 when Connie was twelve years old. Connie remembered her father going to Long Beach, California to find work and after a short time sent for the family. Connie further remembered that her schoolteacher was leaving Oklahoma for California with her two children and agreed to take the Simpson’s with her in her car. The six Simpson children ranged in age from fourteen to two years old. Connie said that the thing she missed most from Oklahoma were her friends.

Connie graduated from Bakersfield High in 1944 and married James Albert West on August 5, 1944. After Albert was discharged from the US Navy in 1945, he worked for Bakersfield Ice and Cold Storage and Connie worked in grape packing sheds as a seasonal worker. The pay schedule was based on how many boxes you packed, and she was slow but her boxes looked beautiful so the packing shed operator put her at the head of the line where the customers came in to watch the packing options and they paid her a premium for making the boxes look so good. Connie also loved working at Weill's dress shop and did a lot of the window and store displays, she had a good eye for decorating.

Albert and Connie had their first child Steven Randall in 1948 and a daughter Rita Colleen in 1953. Connie became a devoted mother and homemaker, though she had a few short time jobs outside the home her primary role was that of a homemaker. Connie’s home was always decorated for each season, and she was always working on a new design for every room in her house.

Connie’s father was a Pentecostal Holiness Church minister for twenty-five years until his death in 1955. From Connie's earliest memories she enjoyed church and dedicated her life to serving Jesus Christ for over eighty-five years. Connie was an active believer and taught Sunday school, vacation bible school, was an active church board member, was a delegate to church conferences, supported many mission programs and women’s auxiliary activities. Connie received numerous awards and certificates for her efforts.

After Albert’s retirement from the Bakersfield City Fire Department, he and Connie loved to travel. Connie, Albert, and their close friends Junior and Ollie Bell and Junior and Elise Hays like to travel throughout California and the Western United States. Connie was fortunate that her brother Vernon Simpson included her in many trips to Europe, the Holy Land and South America, a standing family joke was that if you rattle your keys Connie was ready to go.

Albert and Connie were one of the first tenants to move into Canyon Hills Assembly of God Church Senior’s Housing at Florence Gardens. After Albert passed in 2008 Connie maintained an active church social schedule, quilting, singing with the Silver-Tones, working the October 31 “Harvest Festival” and helping as needed. Through thick and thin, she was a tither for the church in general and the mission programs. Connie admired the ministerial staff at Canyon Hills Church and the qualities each minister brought.

Connie loved and supported her two children, three grandsons, two granddaughters, their wives, husbands, great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation for Connie will be held Thursday, August 26, 2021 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary, 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, CA 93306, followed by a funeral service from 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hillcrestmemorial.com for the West family.