Dorothy Marie West

Dorothy Marie West, 82, passed away on Tuesday, July 25. She was born on May 30, 1935 in Aguilar, Colorado to Joseph and Frances Kancilia. After high school, Dot moved to Pueblo, Colorado in 1953 and worked as a telephone operator for Mountain Bell. On her way to work each day, some guy would whistle at her and wave from a balcony across the street. She did her best to ignore this guy, but 3 months after they met, she and Jack eloped and were married in Raton, New Mexico on June 1, 1957. The funny part of this story is that Jack can’t whistle. After he first saw Dot, he convinced a friend to hide behind the balcony and whistle while he waved and pretended to whistle. As they say, the rest is history. Dorothy, who was also known as Dot, Dottie, Toots and Big “G” (Big Grandma) by her closest friends and family, was a loving wife, devoted mother, telephone operator and a Union rabble-rouser for the Communications Workers of America. She prided herself on never crossing a picket line and would often drive miles to get groceries from another store if there was a strike at the local store. She was an avid bowler, with a 180 average and together with Jack they ran the Northglenn Elks Club bowling league for several years, planning tournaments and bowling bus trips across the state. She enjoyed camping, walking outdoors, dancing, soap operas, poker machines, a good joke, and spending time with her family and friends. She spent her retirement years traveling with her husband and “snow birding” with friends along the Colorado River in Parker Arizona. With Dot’s passing the world will have a little less sarcasm, laughter, and love. She leaves behind the love-of-her-life and husband of 60 years, Jack West, her daughters Gaylene and Tammy, her son-in-law Mike, granddaughter Daphne, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. We picture her in heaven reuniting with the many good friends and family she lost over the years, laughing, planning a few good pranks and smiling down on all of us.