Eloise Margaret West

Eloise was born in Fort Collins, Colorado on August 10, 1933. She grew up on a Sugar Beet farm. She had two older brothers and one younger sister. She went to a very small school in Wellington, Colorado. Her graduating class had nine girls and nine boys. She was homecoming queen. It was there she met and dated Harold West, also of Fort Collins.

Eloise went to Business college after graduation. Harold joined the Navy during the Korean War. Harold and Eloise were married in 1953. They moved to Rhode Island where their oldest daughter Christine was born. After two years they were sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This is where Steven was born with complications. They returned to Fort Collins and Steven required medical care. He died at the age 3. That same year Scott was born.

Eloise was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She and Harold joined shortly after they lost Steven in 1960. Her youngest daughter Wendy was born in 1961. The family was sealed together in the Salt Lake Temple in August of 1964.The family lived in Colorado, North Carolina, Iowa, Georgia and Florida before moving to Galt. When all their children grew up and married, they bought a little ranch in Laramie, Wyoming. It was there Harold died of cancer at the age of 52. Eloise then moved back to Galt.

Eloise served in the church in many ways. Children, Youth, and Women were all blessed by her service. She was a temple worker in both Oakland and Sacramento Temples. She served a full-time mission for 18 months in the Family History Salt Lake Mission. Eloise went back to school at the age of 55 to become a home health aide. She loved the work and the families she served.

She has eleven grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren with another due in April. She also has two great-great grandchildren. They have wonderful memories of her home and acreage in Burson. They loved her homemade pizza and Spud nuts. They would always explore Coyote cave, slide down the hill on cardboard, bang pots and pans on New Years Eve or just sit in the driveway and gaze at beautiful hundreds of stars. She taught them how to quilt and cook. In her later years puzzles and games and stories of her life were shared. She was a lot of fun.

Eloise has left a legacy of laughter, strong family ties, a love of the Savior, flowers and anything purple. We are all blessed to have had her. She will always remain in our hearts.

Well done thou good and faithful servant….