Jean Caryl Bowen West

Jean Caryl West, 73, longtime resident of St. Simons Island, GA, died Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at home surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous 8 year battle with ovarian cancer. Jean was born October 27 1934, in Springfield, Ohio. She grew up in Sidney, OH, and graduated from Sidney High School in 1955. She graduated from Ohio State University, where she met her future husband Jerry, and was a proud member of the Alpha Phi sorority. After marrying in 1959, Jean lived in Ohio and Pennsylvania before settling in Simsbury, CT in 1970, where she raised her 3 children. In 1990, Jean pulled up her Yankee roots and transplanted them to southern soil when she moved to St. Simons Island, GA. Jean leaves behind her husband of 51 years, Jerry West; her children, Jenny West Kearns and her husband Marty, of Glastonbury, CT; Joel West, of St. Simons Island; Julie West, of Simsbury, CT; and a beloved sister, Jo B. Albright, of Orland, CA. Jean was also a loving “Grammy” to her 6 grandchildren, Devon, Patrick, Courtney and Carrie Kearns, and Dylan and Connor West. In addition, Jean leaves behind many cousins, nieces and nephews. Although always a Yankee at heart, Jean embraced her new life in Georgia and became a founding member and past president of the Shorebirds, a social organization on St. Simons Island. She also joined the St. Simons United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir and was a member of the alter guild for many years. Jean’s love of books was boundless, and one of her favorite activities on St. Simons was attending her much loved monthly book club. Jean also loved music, especially singing and playing the piano. She loved rehearsing for and singing the Messiah each holiday season. Jean also loved cats and traveling, and word puzzles that she worked on each morning while she drank her coffee. But above all else, Jean found her true calling as a grandmother, and was never happier than when she could spend time with her grandchildren, picking pumpkins in CT, walking around the village on St. Simons or exploring the beaches at her favorite Hilton Head Island, SC. Jean was a very special wife and mother, whose generosity to her family will be her lasting legacy. She was also a special friend to all who knew her, and always found time to sit and talk with her friends about anything and everything under the sun. Jean’s presence will be missed, but the memory of her smile and her generous spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. Her family would like to send a special thank you to Dr. Antonio Moran for the special care he gave to Jean throughout her illness, Kristina of Heartland Hospice for her compassion to Jean. Family and friends may call at the Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home, 3321 Glynn Ave., Brunswick, GA on Sunday Nov. 14, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. A funeral to celebrate Jean’s life will take place Monday, Nov. 15 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Simon’s United Methodist Church, 624 Ocean Blvd., with a reception following. Donations may be made in Jean’s memory to Heartland Hospice Services, Brunswick, GA. Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.edomillerandsons.com