Daniel West

Daniel B. West (Dan), 58, died in his sleep Sunday, October 16, 2011. He passed peacefully while holding his sleeping wife, Kathy. Only 11 days earlier, he was preceded in death by his mother, Beulah West.

Dan was born August 26, 1953 in Portland, Oregon to Raleigh and Beulah West. He was an early birthday present to his mother, whose 27th birthday was the following day on August 27th. He was third child born to Raleigh and Beulah. But even though he was “the baby” of the family, through the years, he proved to be the bulwark of the family.

Dan met Kathleen (Kathy) McAleer at the wedding of Kathy’s sister to Dan’s best friend and roommate. She was the maid of honor; he was the best man. She even caught the bouquet. Then in 1976, after two and half years of courtship, they were married. They celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in September.

Dan and Kathy started their family in Oregon City, Ore. with daughter Jennifer, son Daniel (Danny) and daughter Angela. In 1986, Dan’s employer, Frito Lay, transferred him to Cedar Hills, Texas, and then a year later to Pulaski, Tenn. He and the family spent several years in the South before moving back to Portland, Ore in 1991 to be closer to his mother after his father’s death.

Though not a member of many organizations, Dan was always well-known in the communities in which he lived. He coached tee-ball and little league in Pulaski, Tenn. He was at various times an active member in church. He made a point to get to know everyone with whom he came in contact, whether it was the barista at Starbucks, the man who did landscaping at his house or the hundreds of people he met through his job as the U.S. Sales Manager at Pasco America. But his favorite role was being Grandpa (or Papa) to his three toddler granddaughters.

Dan is survived by wife Kathy West, daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Ken Scholes, son and daughter-in-law Dan and Kimberly West, daughter and son-in-law Angela and Nick Stoltz, granddaughters Elizabeth and Rachel Scholes and Isabelle Stoltz, sister Kathy Lindberg, brother and sister-in-law Jim and Maryellen West and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, in-laws as well as dear friends who are part of his chosen family.

Family and friends are invited to attend a chapel service followed by a graveside committal on Friday, October 21, 2011 at Lincoln Memorial Park and Funeral Home followed by a gathering at his and Kathy’s home.

Arrangements under the direction of Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, Portland, OR.