Ms. Celestine West

Obituary Celest West, 75, passed away on August 10, 2021, in her home in Kansas City MO surrounded with the love of her family. She was born June 25, 1946, to William D and Vera Margaret Foster in Kansas City KS where she attended elementary and middle school. The family later moved to Kansas City, MO where she graduated from Central High School in 1964. Celest attended Park University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Management. In 1965 she married Phillip Dale Thomas (deceased) in Kansas City MO, and of that marriage three children: Derrick, Sean, and Damon Thomas. Although the marriage didn’t last, they remained friends until his death. In 1972 Celest worked for Western Electric for a short time where she met and later married the love of her life Edward C. West in 1976. Celest went on to become a foreman for General Motors for 10 years. The family later moved to California where she opened her hair salon “Visions and Dreams”. In 1997, they moved back to Kansas City MO, to be closer to family where she became a district manager for several retail clothing stores. Later in life she began teaching for the Center School District where she retired from in 2013. Celest was a member of St James UMC where she sang in the choir for over 40 years and served as a Youth leader while her children were a part of the youth ministry. Anyone who knew Celest knew had a passion for the “little people”, and she turned that passion to purpose by mentoring so many young people to their greatest potential. She was a feisty petite woman with beautiful spirit and always had the best style. She enjoyed fashion, shopping/thrifting, interior decorating, HGTV, swimming, and playing tonk with her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, 13 of her siblings and leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Edward C West of KCMO; her sons, Derrick Thomas of Los Angeles, CA, Sean Thomas of Modesto, CA and Damon Thomas of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Phillip Thomas of Houston, TX; Jade Thomas of Sacramento, CA; Demi, Shawnna and Damon Thomas Jr. all of Los Angeles CA; her siblings Kathleen Mashburn (J.R.) of Martinsville, MO; Carl Bruce Foster (Donna) of Munsee, IN; Linda Thrower (Evern) of KCMO; several nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. https://www.forevermissed.com/celest-west/about?utm_source=fm_emails&utm_medium=gmail.com&utm_campaign=createMemorialWelcome&utm_content=visit Funeral Service will be held Thursday, August 26, 2021, 11:00am at St. James United Methodist Church. Interment Brooking Cemetery. Service conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ms. Celestine West, please visit our floral store. Read More

Ms. Celestine West

June 25, 1946 - August 10, 2021