Laura S. West
February 12, 1938 ~ November 19, 2005
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Laura Smith West, 67, of 205 Sulphur Springs Road, Asheville, died Saturday, November 19, 2005, at her home.
Mrs. West was born in Graham County and was a daughter of the late Clifford Herbert and Jean Rogers Smith. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Larry C. Smith. She received her B.S. Degree in Medical Technology from Western Carolina University and attended graduate school at Appalachian State and at Duke Medical Center.
Mrs. West was the founder and Program Director of the Medical Laboratory Technology and Phlebotomy Programs from 1970 to 2003 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. She began her career at the Columbus, GA Medical Center in 1961.
She was a member of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and member and served on the board of Directors of the NC Association of Blood Bankers.
She was also a member of the NC and the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science where she also served on the Boards of Directors. She was a member of the Advisory Board of Mountain Area Health Education.
She is survived by her husband, Charles F. West; two sons, Mark D. West of the home and Charles V. West of Raleigh, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 12:30 Wednesday, Nov. 23, at West Asheville Baptist Church with the Revs. Joe David Fore and Ivory Hunter officiating.
Burial will be at the NC State Veterans Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Sonny Smith, Clay Smith, Ronnie Horne, Max Queen, Dave Wolfe and Ned Fowler. Honorary pallbearers will be Bruce Fields, Steve Harris, Tom Callahan, Mark Slaughter and Ray Hunter.
Her family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to the Grimes-West Scholarship Fund, A-B Tech Foundation, 340 Victoria Road, Asheville, NC 28801.
Mrs. West’s family expresses their appreciation to Mountain Area Hospice for the kindness and care extended to her.
Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is in charge of the arrangements.
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I am so sorry to hear of Laura’s passing. She was a super lady and will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched.
Charlie,
Laura was always SOMEBODY SPECIAL when I worked with her at Mission Hospital many years ago. She knew her stuff when it came to anything in the lab. So sorry for your loss.
Also, THANK YOU for being there for our family when we lost our ‘Little Freddy’ 32 years ago. You were ‘his buddy’.
‘WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE’ when we all get to heaven to be with our loved ones again.
My prayers are with you and the family at this time.
Keva Hollifield Lovik
Mark and Family,
My condolences are with you all during this difficult time. Three years ago Sunday, November 20th, I lost my dear mother and best friend, I know the pain is unspeakable. I do know that mom was there to greet her, along with all her other loved ones. Be assured that you will all meet again in a much better place. While our bodies get tired our souls live on. Know that she will continue to be your guardian angel.
With love,
Renee
Mark
I share in your grief for the passing of your mother and will have the family in my prayers.
Your Friend
Charlie
Charlie, I know that this is a very hard time for you. Even though I haven’t seen you until last week, you and your family have been in my prayers and will continue to be. Laura was a great lady. I know that she will be missed greatly. Tracy Murphy-Lanning
To the family of Laura,
My deepest condolences to each of you during this time of grief. Laura was most dedicated to AB Tech and I am privileged to have known her.
Joyce Dover-Evans
AB Tech Business Office
Charles, Mark, and Charles,
Laura was a wonderful person who brought sunshine and joy into the lives of all who knew her.
Her contribution to the education of many students is a living tribute to her memory.
May God bless you and give you comfort in the memories of your wife and mother.
Jill and Dee Gehrig
Dear Charlie and family:
I am so sorry to hear about Laura – and so close to losing Aunt Jean. I have so many memories of our being together as kids at Grandmother Smith’s – out on the back porch for dinner – so many wonderful Christmases – out front in the swing in the summer.
God bless each of you. You’re in my heart and prayers.
Dear Family,
Laura was a true inspiration to countless people in the medical field. She will be truly missed. We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers.
With sympathy,
Tia Willet and
Carrie Creasman
The West Family,
I am very sorry for your loss…You will be in our thoughts and prayers…God Bless…Jeremy Debruhl & Family
Charlie and boys. I am so sorry for your loss. I worked with Laura at AB Tech for about 30 years. She was always an inspiration to me as well as all her students. She was really a fighter and was admired more than I can say. I am so sorry I cannot get to her service, but will cherish the memories and the visit we had with her at home. God bless you all.
Charlie, Mark and Charky,
You all are unique and Laura was blessed to have you as family with so much caring and love.
As you know Laura was unique. Her love for her family and friends was true and abiding. Hundreds have had the benefit of her teaching, medical knowledge and expertise in the medical field. That will continue to go forward in the future. My life has forever been changed for having been a part of Laura’s life.
It is an honor to have been her friend and a part of her family.
God Bless You All.
Sue Anderson Brown
Charlie, Mark,and Charky:
Today I heard the news of Laura’s passing. A woman of strength, passion, and love. Her inspiration has touched and will continue to touch many. She was a mentor for many. You must think of her passing as a graduation. She learned, loved, and gave all that God had intended for her to do. She passed with flying colors and now she graduates from this life to her next life. We will join her one day and we must hold onto those thoughts. I think of you guys often and you will be in my prays.
Lots of Love,
Tammy Brendle Atkinson
Charlie, sorry too here of your lost. you are in our prayers. need anything just call me . John Plemmons
I enjoyed working with Laura when we conducted continuing education training classes for county health department laboratory personnel. She made planning for events easy for us & was a delight to visit with. She was a vital part of the laboratory community in North Carolina and she will be missed.
What can one say about Laura West?
She was one of the strongest people I have ever met. She encouraged me to do great things with my life. At different times in my life, she appeared as a lighthouse in my darkest hour to help my find my way. I was touched by her wisdom as well as her wit. Many will mourn her passing and many will carry her spirit in their hearts. I am thankful, I was afforded the opportunity to have her presence in my life.
I am greatly sorrowed to hear about Laura. She was one of my favorite people.
DEAR CHARLES AND FAMILY,
WE WERE SORRY TO HEAR OF LAURA’S PASSING. TAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING SHE’S NO LONGER SUFFERING. WE HOPE YOUR MEMORIES WILL HELP GET YOU THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
LOVE AND PRAYERS,
CVS EMPLOYEES-WESTGATE
My thoughts are with you as we remember an outstanding laboratory and education professional.
My deepest sympathies to all Laura’s family. I know she will be sadly missed by all those lucky enough to have known her. Laura was my daughters teacher and she considered her a mentor as well as a wonderful friend. I had the opportunity to meet her several times and talk with Laura she really was a wonderful lady with so much spark. She will be forever in our hearts.
Mrs.Dawn Hyatt
mother of Amber S.Hannah
TO OUR FRIENDS CHARLIE,MARK AND CHARKY…WHO HAS WALKED WITH LAURA…TOGETHER….THROUGH THE HIGH TIMES AND THE LOW TIMES. TODAY WE KNOW IT’S DIFFICULT TO BEAR THE LOSS OF YOUR WIFE AND MOTHER, BUT MAY IT HELP A LITTLE BIT TO KNOW WE ARE PRAYING THAT YOUR SPECIAL MEMORIES WILL SURFACE AND BE A COMFORT TO YOU, WHILE KEEPING THE ONE YOU LOVED SO MUCH STILL VERY CLOSE TO YOUR HEART. WE ARE SUPPORTING YOU IN PRAYER, ASKING GOD THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT TO EMBRACE YOU WITH HIS LOVE AND PEACE.TOGETHER WE LOOK BACK 60 YEARS AND DRAW UPON THE MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN THE SWANNANOA VALLEY;FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,(PREACHERS SMITH & JOLLY)E.N.HOWELL PRINCIPAL OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,B&J DRUGS-CHERRY COKES,PLAYING HALF COURT BASKETBALL IN HIGH-TOP CANVAS SHOES,LEARNING TO DRIVE OUR 52 CHEVY,55 CHEVY CONVERTIBLE & 51 FORD,BROWN/WHITE SADDLE OXFORDS, POODLE SKIRTS,WEINER ROASTS, BON FIRES,FOOTBALL GAMES,SLEDING BLUE RIDGE ASSEMBLY, SWIMMING IN THE RIVER,BLACK & WHITE TV,HOME COMING COURTS,WHITE SPORT COATS AND PINK CARNATIONS,WEARING STRAPLESS PROM GOWNS TO THE GROVE PARK INN, BILLY GRAHAM SPEAKER AT BACCALAUREATE, RECEIVING OUR DIPLOMAS JUNE 1956 GRADUATING FROM CHARLES D.OWEN HIGH SCHOOL.WE CHERISH OUR CHILDHOOD MEMORIES.TODAY 2005 PARTING IS SWEET SORROW ONLY WHEN THE SWEETNESS IS BASED ON THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE WILL SEE OUR DEAR FRIEND ONCE AGAIN IN HEAVEN. WHERE LAURA RECEIVED HER GREATEST AWARD EVER.. WHEN GOD HANDED HER A DIPLOMA UPON GRADUATING INTO HIS KINGDOM.CHARLIE, MARK AND CHARKY MAY THE PATH THAT LIES BEFORE YOU LEAD YOU ON A PATH OF HOPE, HAPPINESS, AND ETERNITY WITH LAURA..PLEASE KNOW THAT WE WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU, TRAVELING WITH YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY.
Laura West was one of the most special persons put on this earth.
She was my mentor and friend.
She will be missed by us all but
it is comforting to know she is at peace now.
I feel for your lose and pray that memories of the past will help you through this hard time in your life. Laura is my most admired and appreciated teacher and I will miss her.
I loved Ole Mom so much and will miss her greatly. She was such a joy to be around and was such a fighter. She always said she wanted to be the wind when she died…I’ll never quite see the wind the same again.
I am very sorry to hear of laura’s passing. I know she will be missed by alot of people. I know I will always remember her great smile! My prayers are with all of you.
I had not seen Laura in quite a while but I have wonderful memories of working with her in the Asheville High Booster Club. My sympathy and prayers for you,
Sandra Martin
We want you to know that we are sorry to hear about Laura. We are praying that God will comfort you and the family during this difficult time.
CHARLIE I AM SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR WIFE OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU.
To Charlie and family: I pass on my sincere condolences. If there is anything I can do to be of service to you, please do not hesitate to contact myself or my parents. You are in my thoughts & prayers.
I just heard of the passing of your wife and mother. She was a wonderful person. I graduated from AB-Tech 2002. I had a wonderful opportunity to know Laura. Laura was a great teacher and very patient with me, when things got tough and I wanted to run she was always there for me. I graduated from AB-Tech at the age of 41 and a single mom I never thought I could do it, but she believed I could do it. She was always bragging about her family. I fealt like I knew you all. She was a inspiration to everybody that knew her, she will not be forgotten. Laura will be greatly missed. Love Becky