Obituaries

Berdie Ilene (Gaston) West, age 77, of Cedarville, Michigan, died on October 23, 2025, at her
home. She was born on October 11, 1948, in Van Dyke, Michigan, to Joseph and Opal Minnie
(Pruitt) Gaston.

Ilene worked as a cook in various facilities over the years, where she met the love of her life,
Larry “Jim” West. The two were married for forty-nine years and made their home in Hessel,
Michigan, where they spent the majority of their married life together.

Ilene was a devoted member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and was well known for sharing her
faith, her hope, and the values she lived by.
Ilene enjoyed crocheting and often made handmade gifts for others. She loved to cook and
delighted in sharing her dishes, each one prepared with love. She and Jim especially cherished
their picnics on the beach along Lake Huron. Ilene was famously frugal with herself yet
endlessly generous with others. She found great joy in caring for her husband and tending to
their hobby farm.

Ilene is survived by her son, Glen (Christine) West of St. Ignace, Michigan; stepdaughter,
PennyAnn (Daniel) Mulligan of Redondo Beach, California; stepsons, Jim (Bridget) West of St.
Ignace and Larry (Barb) West of Pickford, Michigan; grandchildren, Cody West, Michael West,
Elizabeth Hensley, Jason, Lyndsey, Allison, Brandon, Danny and Britini; and great-
grandchildren, Lilly, Ezra, Owen, Joseph, Freya, Summer, Tatum, Phoenix, Hadley, Dax, Tracie,
Alexandria, Orion, Lily, Adalynn, Valkyrie and Fenris.

Ilene was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; and her five sisters.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 1:00 PM, at the Kingdom
Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, W1600 M-123 Moran, MI 49760.

Family Life Funeral Homes – Pickford assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may
be left to the family at www.familylifefh.com.