Jean Ellen McGillivray West

Jean Ellen McGillivray was born March 24, 1922, in Norma, North Dakota. She was the fourth of eight children, and her parents, Donald and Ella (Petersen) McGillivray, farmed the homestead. Ella had been the school teacher, and Donald was the sheriff. They hosted potlucks and dances at the farm on Saturday nights for neighbors and friends.

After the depression, they moved off the farm and into Minot, North Dakota, where Jean graduated from high school. In 1940, she moved with her family to Des Moines, IA. She worked for insurance agent, Dana Johnson, where she met her life-long best friend, Ruby.

She met Franklin D. West, Jr., in 1948, and they were married August 20, 1949. They settled in Des Moines, and were married for 66 years. Their three children are Sally (Bruce Hink), F. David West, III (Sandra, deceased), and Kim (Joe Evans).

Jean and Frank had a very active life. They were regulars at the Hoyt Sherman Dance Club, and onlookers would comment they were a good looking couple and great dancers. They loved life, a good party, and they traveled extensively, including Hawaii, Europe (Belgium, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy). They loved traveling, and wintered in Arizona for 12 years, took fishing vacations in Minnesota and Canada, and visited family across the country.

Jean loved fashion --- clothes, shoes and shopping. She worked for the Norman Cassidy clothing store, and she and Frank had a very active social life. They belonged to Hyperion Country Club, where they golfed and had many good friends.

Jean was president of the Des Moines chapter of the American Business Women’s Association, and worked for many years at Meredith Publishing in the test kitchen. She wrote and tested recipes. Her grandchildren could be seen in Des Moines Register advertisements, and Better Homes and Gardens magazines and books that Meredith published. Jean was an excellent cook, and her spaghetti and meatballs were a family favorite known as the ‘very best!’ Not even the best Italian restaurants could compare to her recipe.

Jean and Frank were married at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, and raised their family at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Once the children were grown, they moved to their neighborhood church, Douglas Avenue Presbyterian, where Jean served as an Elder, and was Director of the children’s ministry.

Jean loved children. She was an active mother and a grandmother of six, step-grandmother of 11, had 29 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. She was very bright, interesting and fun before her illness, and she especially loved children.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, seven siblings: Eleanor, Ramona, Lois, Don, Shirley, Peg, and Hugh; and her daughter-in-law, Sandra West. She was deeply loved, and will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

A visitation will be held Sunday, February 28, 2016 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA with the funeral service on Monday, February 29 at 11:00 a.m. at Douglas Avenue Presbyterian Church, 4601 Douglas Ave. in Des Moines, IA with burial at Chapel Hill Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank Valley View Village caregivers, Becky Coleman-Bunker, and Mercy Hospice in Johnston for their kind and compassionate care.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Shriners Hospital for Children in Minneapolis or to Douglas Avenue Presbyterian Church. Condolences may be expressed online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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