Evelyn Inez (Thomas) West was born February 27, 1929 in Sarasota, Florida, to parents John Brown (Jerry) Thomas and Evielou Rachel Hanson. On April 3, 1948, she married her high school sweetheart, Robert Bruce (Bob) West at First Presbyterian Church in Sarasota. Evelyn started dating Bob when she was 16, and only ever dated one other boy one time. As she said, “When you know, you know.”

Evelyn and her two older brothers grew up in small-town Sarasota where everyone knew everyone. Her mother had a beauty shop and Evelyn’s talent with hair-styling began there. She lived close to her great-grandparents, spending time in their corner grocery, and perhaps learning the joy of close family which would be her guiding light throughout her life. Grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins were a constant in the West family circle. Large gatherings with lots of food!

Evelyn and Bob would weather a wide variety of trials in their 76 year marriage. The first came quickly. Just over two months after their wedding, Bob rode his motorcycle to visit his step-dad for Father’s Day and was the victim of a near-fatal, hit and run accident. He spent his 21st birthday in the hospital recuperating from multiple surgeries. Evelyn was his stalwart support during this time.

Evelyn’s childhood dream had been to be a nurse, but circumstances did not allow that. Just before her marriage, she completed beauty school and became a hairdresser in a salon in Sarasota. She had a dedicated following due to her talent. When the Wests later moved to their new property on 42nd Street, she eventually started her own salon.

Evelyn and Bob had three children: Terry, Bob, and John. Their growing family prompted their move from 1068 Cocoanut Avenue to the new home they built. This 5-acre property saw a lot of activity! There were Girl and Boy Scout events held there, home-built go carts, and lots of frog catching, rope swings and fun. Evelyn learned to shoot, too – once blowing away a threatening rattlesnake. Her love of taking care of (most!) living things included raising a baby squirrel successfully. Whiskers was eventually returned to the outdoors after scooting across the breakfast table in a mad dash one morning. The tradition of close family continued as the West property adjoined Bob’s parents’ 5-acres. A wooded path was soon created between the two, and the three children had close ties to these grandparents, also.

Evelyn was enthusiastic about many things. She happily welcomed a high school Swedish exchange student into their home in Cocoa, Florida. Lars Nordensten became “one of the family”. He was introduced to many historical sites, learned to water ski, and picked up way more American teen slang than his parents might have preferred. In his adult years, he returned and settled in New York City.

In 1958, Evelyn and Bob and another couple were given the task of starting a new Presbyterian church in Sarasota. The early group met in the DeSoto Lakes Sales Office while the church was becoming a reality. Northminster Presbyterian is still an active church today. Evelyn held offices, planned Easter sunrise services, taught classes, and was part of the Women of the Church. Her church activities continued with the family’s move to Cocoa in 1966. The family joined Cocoa Presbyterian Church, with Evelyn and Bob remaining members the rest of their lives. Again, Evelyn was part of the Kitchen Crew in the new church kitchen, held offices, ran fundraisers, taught classes, prepared the candles and altar cloths for each season. Even after Evelyn and Bob could no longer attend services, they watched them online. Evelyn often remarked it was “so comfortable to go to church in your pajamas.”

Evelyn loved to be on the move, and Bob was a good partner in that. They made countless trips to North Carolina to the cabin that they, and the family, built. When they retired, they bought a motorhome, the Bounder, and hit the road. They went all over the US and then, from Alaska, traveled the challenging AlCan Highway, before heading home. So many stories from that trip!

Eventually, they would visit all 50 states and Russia, Italy, Greece, Mexico, Guatemala, Aruba, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Estonia, and more! Many of these trips were made with their children and their families. Evelyn added Germany and London to her list when she spent a week touring with her daughter and a friend through Germany for the millennium Passion Play in Oberammergau, and then spending three memorable days in London.

Evelyn was never afraid of tackling any task and that included remembering her childhood wish. At age 55, she quit her job at Southern Bell and went back to school to become a nurse. She took on all that was required, with Bob as her support crew. He was giving back the support she had given him in his years at Florida Power and Light. He was her guinea pig, with his only refusal being “no injections and no enemas!” Evelyn graduated from Nursing School in 1986 with many of her family traveling to be with her for this momentous achievement. She would go on to work at hospitals in Orlando and Daytona Beach, choosing to work in Oncology where she felt she could truly care for people. Sadly, her new career was cut short when she was struck down with Guillain Barré.

Evelyn’s two-year-long bout with the disease and the recovery, and Bob’s unceasing support for her, were a lesson for the entire family. She was strong through most of it, struggling to relearn to do almost everything, including speaking, standing up, walking, using her hands. And she made it back!

Whenever troubles hit her family, Evelyn stood up to everything and everyone to help. She welcomed all the new babies, helped their moms, showed up to help with recovery after surgeries, and was always “on call” for whatever was needed. This part of her character was not limited to family; she helped friends and even total strangers when they had needs.

Evelyn’s great love was family: Bob, her children, their spouses, step-children, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and then – to her immense joy -- great-great-grandchildren! She was never happier than when holding a new baby or small child.

Evelyn passed away under hospice care and with a lot of family and friends around her on Friday, September 19, 2026. She was 97. In an interesting note, Bob died also in September at age 97. Their passings were 2 years, 2 weeks, and 2 days apart. And we all hope they are again holding hands.

“Mourn not long that she is gone, Rejoice forever that she was!” (paraphrase of a Harkins’ poem)

Evelyn was pre-deceased by her brothers Francis and Edward James, two sons-in-law, Ken Asche and Gary Leschitz and by her children: Terri Asche in PA, Robert B. “Bob” West III (Rachel) and Dr. John T. West (Debbie) both in NC, and her beloved “second daughter”, Faye Leschitz in FL.

Also survived by four grandchildren: Kellie Bardo (Ray), FL; Brian West (Ginny), FL; Barbara West (Curtis), CA; and Jennifer West (Peter), GA; by five great-grandchildren: Taylor Vallé (Jim); James Bardo; Nicholas West (Kailee); Madison Sedaros (Zak); and Dustin Bardo (Kiana); and by five great-great-grandchildren: Mason Bardo, Dustin Bardo Jr., Kyla Bardo, Luna Vallé, and Sunny Vallé.

Evelyn West – Forever loved, forever missed!