Gary West

Gary Paul West, 77, of Mount Vernon passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 2 at Mercy Hospital, Iowa City. Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 6, 2017, at First Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon. Visitation: 4:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at Stewart-Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon. Graveside Service: 2:00 p.m. Thursday, April 6, 2017, Rowley Cemetery in Rowley, Iowa. Gary is survived by sons, Greg (Stephanie) and Doug (Michele) West; grandchildren, Ammie (West) Trumpold, Zachary, Alyson, Taylor, Jessica and Austin West; step-grandchildren, Sarah Learned, Kate Bishop, Matthew and Andrew Heck; and great-grandson, James Trumpold. He is also survived by brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Diana Muchmore; and their children, Susan, Julie and Mark. Gary was born March 21, 1940 in Waterloo, Iowa. He graduated from Waterloo East High School in 1958. As a junior and senior in high school he worked at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store, where he continued to work after graduation. He then moved to Cedar Rapids for a position with Eagle supermarket. In 1976, he took a production position with Quaker Oats in Cedar Rapids, where he remained for 39 years until his retirement in 2005. Gary met Ann Muchmore on a blind date. They were married on August 4, 1963. Gary modeled dependability and selfless service to his family on a daily basis. Gregory Paul was born in 1964 and Douglas Roy in 1969. Gary was extremely proud of his sons and followed them both through four sports at Mount Vernon High School, which meant he and Ann supported them at every home and away competition. He was very active in church. Gary and Ann's first church family was Central Park Presbyterian Church of Cedar Rapids, followed by First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon, where they moved in 1975. Gary was an active member of the church Session and an ordained elder. He initiated many outreach activities, including congregational meals and church food stands for Kolache Days/Heritage Days and RAGBRAI celebrations where 'bunny burgers' became a trademark request. He quietly provided an example of consistent dedication and service to his church family. Gary was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Adelaide 'Ann' West; parents, Paul and Phyllis (Tracy) West; two siblings, Danny West, and Linda Vaughn; and brother-in-law, Gerald 'Smokey' Vaughn. The family would like to express gratitude for the care given to Gary at the Solon Nursing Care Center for the past seven years. Memorials may be given in honor of Gary to the First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon or the Solon Nursing Care Center.