Obituary of Eva Marie West

EVA MARIE (GREEN) WEST Eva (or Eve as she preferred) Marie West passed away on May 4th, 2006 in Olympia Washington. She was born October 13, 1921 in Deer Lodge, Montana to Estelle and Walter N. Kemp. When 2 (two) years old, she moved with her mother and sister, Georgia, to Wenatchee, Washington. When her mother married Thomas Woodward (T. Wood) Green, Mr. Green formally adopted her and her sister. Eve attended Stevens Elementary, Wenatchee Junior High and graduated from Wenatchee High in 1940. While growing up, her talents in music and art were recognized early, beginning violin lessons at 4 (four) and becoming very accomplished. But, her love for art took precedence, mostly in the medium of oil. Her oil portraits were in demand but she also did portraits in charcoal, ink and pencil. Her love of art continued through her entire life, with her work ending only when she became terminally ill. In 1942 she married Frederick J. Karel in Wenatchee. He met Eve while on leave from his unit at the Ephrata Air Base. They had one son, Tom, born on August 11, 1943. In 1944, Eve joined the Army Air Corps and served stateside as a truck driver until just after the end of WWII in 1945. She then lived for a short time in Seattle prior to moving to California. In 1961, Eve married Rufus (Red) W. West in Eureka, California and they later made their home in Novato, California. She retired from Fairchild Semiconductor after 20 (twenty) years and the couple moved and made their retirement home in the Fernley/Wadsworth area of Nevada for 18 (eighteen) years. Eve will always be known for her great spirit and sense of humor. She will also be remembered for her devotion to her husband, Red, as his sole caregiver for 12 (twelve) years following a major stroke. In May of 2005, they moved to Olympia, Washington to be near Eve’s son, Tom and his family. Her mother, Estelle Green and father, T. wood Green, preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband Red of 45 (forty-five) years; her son Tom Green and his wife Sherri of Olympia, Washington; her sister Georgia T. Duff of Chelan, Washington; step-daughter and son-n-law, Shirley and Ed Alexander of Greensboro, N.C.; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. An informal service will be held at the United Churches of Olympia, Washington at 11:00 a.m. on May 13, 2006, with Military Inurnment recognition to be held at a later date at Tahoma National Cemetery near Kent, Washington. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local food bank or charity of choice.