Frances West

Frances Mooring West was called to her Heavenly Home on October 2, 2023 at Pikeville's Countryside Village after a hard fought four-year battle with dementia, four days short of her 90th birthday.

Born Mary Frances Mooring in Fremont on October 6, 1933 to Tobe Mooring and Bertie Blow Mooring, she married her high school sweetheart, Rudolph B. West, on January 14, 1951. They were blessed with four loving children and were married for over fifty years until his death in 2001.

Frances worked for over 32 years as a teacher's assistant at Fremont Elementary School. She truly loved her job and "all my little children" as she would often say. She was a lifetime member of Fremont Missionary Baptist Church, raising all her children in the Church. She was a devoted and active member, singing in the choir, chairing outreach ministries, and was there every Sunday to fold the bulletins, among many other contributions. 

In addition to her parents and husband, Frances was pre-deceased by her grandson Brent West, her son-in-law Pastor Danny Kirby, her siblings Leroy Mooring (Eunice), Chester Mooring (Margie), Evelyn Hooks (Harold), and Nita Mae Elmore (John), and her brother-in-law Willard Ballance.

She is survived by her sister Eleanor Ballance of Fremont and by her four children: Pastor Rudy West (Rebecca) of Fremont, Fred West (Catherine) of Mills River, Steve West (Kellie) of Pikeville, and Pastor Beth Santiago (Jose) of Goldsboro. In addition, she was blessed with and survived by eight grandchildren: Bert West (Stephanie), Bryan West (Lisa), Emily Brahy (Kelly), Leslie Buckner (Michael), Erik West (Jessica), Karlie Newsome, Andrew Kirby, and Christian Suter (Johnathan), and 13 great grandchildren who were very dear to her.

A graveside service of love and remembrance will be held on Saturday, October 7 at 12 Noon at the Elmwood Cemetery in Fremont with Pastor Rudy West officiating. 

The family would like to thank all the staff at Countryside Village for all the love and care provided to Mom over the past four years. Also, thanks to Gentiva Hospice Care for the comforting services they provided to Mom in her last days.

No flowers please.  Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Dr. N, Wilson, 237-7171; www.wilsonmemorialservice.com