Darleen J. West

Darleen was born on April 1, 1932, in Water Valley, Texas, and moved to Lubbock at the age of 16. A former member of Broadway Church of Christ, she was a fervent follower of Jesus. Her long, meaningful life was guided by her Christian faith, her compassion, and her charity for others. She, alongside her husband, Jimmy, and their family, answered the call to serve as missionaries in Ethiopia from 1964 to 1966.

Known for her hospitality, Darleen spent the past 70+ years building friendships and community in Lubbock, Texas. At the age of 45, she demonstrated great courage and resilience in returning to school to earn her RN before the passing of her first husband. Subsequently, she worked as a nurse at Lubbock Christian University and as a volunteer chaplain at Methodist Hospital. She inspired several family members and others to enter the medical field. She and her husband, Loren, served together as volunteers for Hospice of Lubbock and served on the Board of Directors.

Darleen faithfully loved her friends. She participated in regular Birthday Bunch meetups with dear friends she had known for decades. She also loved nature and appreciated the beauty of God’s creation. As an avid bird watcher, she enjoyed sharing knowledge of their names and unique songs. She was a proficient gardener keeping beautiful roses and colorful flowerbeds. She delighted in hymns and poetry. She was also a prolific lifelong journaler and participated in creative writing classes held on campus at Carillon.

She was a longtime member of the Quaker Avenue Church of Christ family, whom she loved serving and was so generously served by in recent years. She was always willing to share her faith and the reason for hope, even in the hardest of her last days.

She is preceded in death by sister Gladys Griffith, husbands James (Jimmy) Davidson, Perry Jones, and Loren West; daughter Koebe Vaughan; and grandson Joshua Davidson. She is survived by her daughter Katherine Hefley, son James Courtney Davidson and wife Lisa, and son-in-law Douglas Vaughan; grandchildren Amber and Tory Thompson, Emily and Steve Passmore, John and Andrea Hefley, Sara Zeagler, Stephanie and Michael Fowler, Joseph and Marie Simas, Jordan and Janine Davidson, Olivia and Matthew Dremalas; 14 great-grandchildren; and brother and sister-in-law Hilliard and Joyce Ditmore.

Visitation and funeral services will be held on December 2, 2025 at Quaker Avenue Church of Christ. Visitation will be from 10:00am to 11:00am. Funeral services will be held at 1:30pm with a graveside service immediately following.

Darleen was a foster parent for several children and a long-term supporter of The Children’s Home of Lubbock. Memorial donations are welcome in her honor in lieu of flowers.

"In my Father's house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also". John 14:2-3