Judith Ellenor West

She was born on January 2, 1937, in Ogden, Utah, to the late George Artimus and LaVon Ellenor (Mason) Ward, the youngest of three children. Judy was a 1954 graduate of Ogden High School and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Utah in 1958. She then went to work for the Salt Lake School District in Public Relations.

In 1959, Judy married Lionel M. “Joe” West. In 1968, they moved to Newport Beach, Calilfornia and, then, to Richardson, Texas in 1973, where they raised their three children, Ellie, Libby, and Jim.

In Texas, she found her love for Palomino horses, cats, and dogs; it was through that love that she began to support The Humane Society.

In 1974, she and Joe began their own business, J-Marc and Atlas Horsewalker of which she was head Bookkeeper. Her keen sense of accounting led her to work throughout the remainder of her life keeping books for Apple Orthodontics, Testronics, and Los Rios Country Club in Plano, Texas.

Throughout her adult life, Judy was a member of various organizations, including Pi Beta Phi Fraternity, the Junior League of Dallas, Newport Beach, and Salt Lake City, (serving as President in Newport Beach). In Richardson, Texas, she was a member of the Richardson Women’s Club. She cherished her faith, friends, and loved her church family at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – Plano 1st Ward.

Judy found joy in many things: reading, traveling, horseback riding, writing children’s books and dog stories, watching the morning sunrise at the beach, hot air balloon festivals, art festivals, as well as countless other enjoyments. More than anything, though, Judy loved her children and grandchildren. She loved spending time with them, especially at the beach, and sharing in their activities. Her grandchildren referred to her as “loving, joyful, caring, beautiful, and hopeful” – all qualities that she lived out in her Christian life with hopes to pass on to those she leaves behind. Judy will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.

In addition to her parents, Judy was preceded in death by her sister, Elizabeth Ann Sutton. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Ellie (Bill) Cunningham of Richardson, Texas, Libby (Powell) Cannon of Centerville, Texas, and Jim (Amy) West of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Jordan Cannon, Jake Cannon, Max West, Sydney West, Sam West; sister and brother-in-law, Jean LaVon (Don) Bradshaw of Salt Lake City, Utah; former husband and friend, Lionel M. “Joe” West III; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 29, 2017 at 4:00 p.m., with visitation from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2700 Roundrock Trail, Plano, Texas 75075. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, July 6, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Willard Cemetery, Willard, Utah.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her memory may be made to The Humane Society of the United States, Dept: Gift Donations, Suite 450, Washington D.C. 20037, humanesociety.org. For those interested in sending flowers to the graveside, please contact Brigham Floral & Gifts, 435-723-3449.