Susan West
January 2, 1946 ~ May 8, 2023
Susan Elaine West, 77, Mount Vernon, passed away Monday, May 8, 2023, at UnityPoint Health, St Luke's Medical Center Hospice, Cedar Rapids. Memorial Services 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon. Visitation for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Susan, the daughter of Stephen and Elaine Whipple West, was born January 2, 1946, in Cedar Rapids. She grew up on the family farm south of Mount Vernon. Susan was an avid reader and life-long learner. She graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1964. Susan attended and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1968. She earned her master's degree in Library Science from the University of Missouri Columbia, in 1976. Susan worked as a dedicated librarian in the Miles, Iowa, school system and at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. Her love of horses and riding led her to attend and graduate from Kirkwood's Horse Science program.
Susan inherited the West family love of travel and enjoyed treks to Florida, the East coast, Canada and many western states especially Arizona. Her most memorable trip was a six-week UNI study program to Europe in 1971. Highlights were time spent in Russia, the Vienna Riding School in Austria and study at Oxford University in England.
A life-long Democrat, Susan called herself a 'political junkie' attending Iowa Caucuses and always keeping up with political news. Music was another of Susan's passions. She was a die-hard Beatles fan attending two Paul McCartney concerts and numerous other concerts including Gordon Lightfoot and Linda Ronstadt. One thing she regretted in leaving this world is that she never owned a vintage red Ford Mustang.
Susan will be remembered by many for her intelligence and her kindness. She was open-minded, bright and truly interested in the experience of the people she encountered.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law John Crandell. She is survived by sister, Sandra West of Vail, Arizona; numerous cousins; relatives, and friends.
Memorials may be made in Susan's name to the Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance Service.
Please share your support and memories with Susan's family on her Tribute Wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under Obituaries.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services – Mount Vernon
From the Pet Nanny of Mount Vernon family, we remember with love our time with Susan and her beloved cat Mama. Susan adored Mama and shared stories with us about other beloved cats she rescued. We will miss Susan and her beautiful smile and loving heart.
Susan was one of those special treasures that one meets in life. We had many conversations when she would winter in Arizona, and I always found her to be interesting and funny. She was an excellent story teller and a great music lover. I will always remember Susan’s lovely and simple authenticity. It is a quality to emulate. Peace and Love.
As Susan’s younger sister, I have a life time of memories of her. As children, playing at “cowboys” was the main thing with Roy Rogers and Gene Autrey on TV. We graduated from riding the railings on the steps upstairs in the house to actual horses as we got older. Summers were spent on family travels to Florida, the Black Hills, Yellowstone and the Rocky Mountains.
In recent years, we two enjoyed several road trip adventures in Iowa and the southwest. Susan’s wish was to see the Grand Canyon and we did it up right. She was adventurous, engaged and interested in new places. She always found a bookstore to visit.
Our last journey together took us through doctor’s appointments, imaging, blood tests and treatments. Susan was brave in the face discomfort and having to move away from her home. She chose to think about what she was grateful for rather than the pain. When asked how she was doing, she would say that at her birth the doctor told Mom the baby wouldn’t live 24 hours. She said “I’ve had 77 good years. That’s what I think about.” At one point after her cancer diagnosis, she sat to rest and started weeping. I hugged her close and asked what she was thinking she said, “I don’t want to leave you alone.” That was Susan, her big heart and concern for others.
It was a privilege to walk her home. I will love her forever.
I am certain by now Susan has the Library of Heaven all reorganized. I can picture her with a cup of tea, some chocolate and a good book sitting and visiting with your mom and dad in a beautiful garden of flowers. They all lead beautiful and caring lives. Quote from a favorite poem of mine – So wonderful to remember, yet so hard to be without.