Ella Lee Crawley West
Mrs. Ella Lee Crawley West, 98, passed into Heav-enly Life on June 21, 2024. Mrs. West gained her wings while convalescing at Twilight Home in Cor-sicana and had become a staff favorite there in the short duration of her excellent care.
Born in 1925 to proud parents Willie Ervin Crawley and wife, Verna Newton Crawley, “Lee” received the best of “old school” education in Cotton Gin, both on the farm and in the classroom.
Her sharp wit and beauty caught the attention of Mr. Joe Millard West, Sr., and they married on April 25, 1943. They added two lovely children, Joella Elaine, and Joe Millard, Jr., aka “Sonny,” and settled in Cotton Gin until a move to Wortham in 1966.
Mrs. West led a quietly dignified Christian life and was proud of her Baptist roots. She loved to cook, read autobiographies and any magazines about home and gardens, Despite being widowed, she was fiercely determined to do things on her own and was often seen outside planting beautiful flowers and harvesting blackberries and pecans for her delicious desserts. Her peach cobbler and chocolate pies were just two of her families’ delights. Her family’s “WonderWoman,” she was literally weed eating at 98 until a devastating stroke sent her to hospitals and A rehabilitation center.
Friendly to all who knew her, she was so appreciat-ed by nursing home residents in Wortham to whom she painstakingly provided medications. She loved serving in this role, and family and staff at Twilight Home had to help her remain seated for safety due to her overriding instinct to help the other residents. Her work ethic was unmatched. Mrs. Lee West was a “doer,” and her independent spirit and fun-loving good nature made her easy to love.
Mrs. West was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Joe Millard West, Sr., her parents, and siblings, Bud Crawley, Erma Crawley Trent and Leta Crawley Glass, and their respective spouses. Left to grieve her absence are Daughter Elaine and husband Ed Walker, Son Joe M., Jr and wife, Lisa, grandsons Sean Edward Walker and wife Tina, Joe Christopher Walker and wife Susan, and Joe Connor West; great grands Chris, Rose and Dade Walker; nieces and nephews Debbie Crawley Bulger, Willie “Bubba,” Andy and Jerry Crawley, Ellen Glass, Tommy and Teri Glass, Billy, Glenda, Peggy and Waylon Trent, and respective spouses.
Mrs. West’s Life Celebration was held at Blair-Stubbs Chapel on Tuesday, June 25, at 11 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Pallbearers are Bill Capers, Mike Goodwin, and Joe Connor West, with honorary members to join. Interment was held at the Cotton Gin Cemetery following services.
The family of Mrs. West would like to extend a special thank you to the Bristol Hospice Family for their sweet care during her time at Twilight Home.
