Barbara G. West (Hawver) was born to Lloyd Vernon Hawver and Billie Mae Embree in Seattle, Washington.
During her sophomore year Barb moved to Randle, Washington and attended White Pass High School. Before completing her senior year she married Max West and dropped out of high school to begin her family. Barb believed in the value of a good education so after her first few children were born she continued pursuit of her high school diploma, waiting till after the kids were in bed to do her bookwork. Not long after that she got her college degree from Centralia College. By her mid 20’s Barbara had six children and a thriving logging business with her husband Max. Barb was always a “can do” kind of gal and wasn’t afraid to tackle anything considered “man’s work”.
Barb believed in an honest day’s work. She believed you should never give up, and when life gets you down, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep going. She was once quoted as saying, “Keep being strong. That doesn’t mean being pushy, but being honest and strong to defend what’s right, what you believe in and what you’re working for.”
Barbara was strong-willed & stubborn to her core because she held firm to her beliefs. Like the song says, “you’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything.”
These are just some of the lessons she taught her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Every life she has touched was changed by her. She taught us all how to be more than we thought we could be. She proved to generations of young girls that we can do anything we put our minds to (no matter what any man tells us!) She was never afraid to speak the truth even when it wasn’t what you wanted to hear. She was a loyal and dependable friend. She loved God, loved her church family, and she knew where she was going in the end.
She was a well-respected and active member in her community. She was on the school board for over 20 years and volunteered regularly on projects throughout Randle.
Never one to sit idle, Barb had a very adventurous spirit. She enjoyed hiking, fishing, and traveling. She wasn’t afraid to take off in her RV on an adventure on her own but loved traveling with her friends and family. She traveled to many places such as Alaska, Belize, Hawaii, and all over the USA.
Barb is preceded in death by her sons David West and Lyle West. She is survived by her sons Larry West, Dale West, her daughters Barbie West and Linda West. Barbara’s legacy lives on through her 18 grandkids, 22 great-grandkids, and four great-great-grandkids.
She was an exceptional woman and all who knew her, know of her kindness, her generosity, her adventurous spirit, and her no-nonsense way about life.
The Family Worship Center in Randle will be hosting a memorial service in Barb’s honor on Saturday, June 24, 2023 open to all who wish to celebrate her life or share a fond memory.
