Charlotte Delee (West) Coleson

Charlotte DeLee West Coleson, age 76, of Raytown, Missouri, passed peacefully from this life on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. She was at home and surrounded by the family on whom she had lavished love, passing on that which she received from Jesus Christ.

Charlotte was born November 25, 1949, in Tarentum, Pennsylvania, to the Reverend Mr. and Mrs. H. Blaine and Elaine West. Following her elementary and high school years in Lexington, Kentucky, she graduated from Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan University), with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She was united in holy matrimony with Joseph Coleson on June 20, 1970, in Lexington, Kentucky.

In 1995, Charlotte earned the Master of Education degree from Roberts Wesleyan College (now University) in North Chili, New York. Over the course of her career, she taught in elementary schools in Indiana, Massachusetts, Oregon, New York, and Missouri, retiring from the Kansas City Public Schools (Missouri) as a reading specialist. She also had the privilege of teaching in Israel and Russia, while traveling with her husband.

Charlotte made the most of her natural talents and developed many interests. She was an accomplished musician, playing piano and organ and singing in church settings from a young age, and ensuring her children had a robust musical education. Charlotte loved making things with her own hands, sewing many clothes for herself and her loved ones (including several wedding parties), in addition to quilting and needlepoint. She loved cooking and baking, and hosting meals and celebrations. Over the years, Charlotte and Joseph welcomed hundreds of students, family, and friends into their home for a cup of tea, a meal, or a place to stay. She loved antiques and reading good books, especially to children. Charlotte also traveled extensively in the Middle East and Europe, and leaves behind friends around the world.

Charlotte is survived by her husband Joseph; sisters Marilyn West Dawalt, of North Chili, New York, and Kimberley West Moore of Thomasville, North Carolina, brother and sister-in-law Harry and Francie West of Salem, Oregon; son Jeremy and daughter-in-law Juanita Coleson, daughter Sarah and son-in-law Joshua Coleson-Derck; grandchildren Madelyn Coleson, Joseph Derck, and Miriam Derck; step-grandchildren Justin Zamora, Brandon Craddick, and Mikayla Craddick; ten great-grandchildren, and many beloved extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents Blaine and Elaine, father- and mother-in-law Albert and Maxine Coleson, brothers- and sisters-in-law Stephen and Evangeline Coleson, Larry and Mary Wildfong, and Martha Meyette, and by her step-grandson Richard Zamora.

The family invites memorial contributions in honor of Charlotte to the H. Blaine & Elaine West Scholarship Fund at Nazarene Theological Seminary. www.nts.edu/give