Dorothy 'Dot' Alice West

Dorothy Alice "Dot" West passed away on Saturday June 15, 2019. The oldest child of Annie and George West, Dot was born April 1, 1920 in Philadelphia, PA. The Wests, including her beloved brother, George Henry Jr. moved to Jacksonville, FL when Dot was a young child. Dot graduated from Andrew Jackson High School before attending Florida State College for Women in Tallahassee, FL, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree. In 1955, Dot received her Masters of Religious Education from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Dot learned to play the piano at the age of eight. She entered many State Music Association contests and won quite a number of them. Dot taught the second and third grades at an elementary school in Baldwin, FL and one semester of music at Kirby Smith Junior High in Jacksonville, before becoming the Director of Christian Education at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Stockton St. She also served as Director of Religious Education at St. Matthews Episcopal Church, Richmond, VA; Christ Church, Charlotte, NC; Church of the Nativity, Huntsville, AL and Christian Education Director at St. Johns Cathedral, Jacksonville, FL. At every church that Dot attended she made friends and they became like family. Thus her "family" kept growing so her family was an important part of her life. She chose not to be ordained because she felt that clergy needed a strong support of the laity. Dot then worked as the manager of the Episcopal Book Store for the Diocese of Florida which gave her an opportunity to work with many different parishes and clergy in and around the Diocese of FL. After retiring, Dot served as Assistant Chaplain of the Memorial Hospital Volunteer Axillary for twenty-three years. Dot was a life-long member of St. Johns Cathedral, a member of the American Association of University Women, and the Japonica Garden Circle. She attended Cursillo #1 and served as Director of several summer sessions at Camp Weed. Dot also traveled extensively with her brother, George Henry. Dot is survived by a cousin, Norman West (Mary Ann) of Chicago, IL and an "adopted" daughter, Nancy Pace Ford (The Rev. Bruce M.) of Jax, FL. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 13, 2019 at St. Johns Cathedral at 11AM, with a reception held in Tallaferro Hall following the service. The Reverend Edward H. Harrison will officiate. Interment will take place in the Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Johns Cathedral, 256 E. Church St. Jax, FL 32202, Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center, 11057 Camp Weed Place, Live Oak, FL 32060 or Kanuga Conference Center, 130 Kanuga Chapel Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28739..FuneralSt. John's CathedralSaturday, July 13, 201911:00 AM256 East Church StreetJacksonville, Florida 32202A reception will be held immediately following the service.IntermentEvergreen CemeterySaturday, July 13, 20194535 N Main StreetJacksonville, FL 32206