Jerry Lee West

Jerry Lee West, 70, of 241 Independence Place, Cullowhee died Thursday, April 7, 2011 while hiking in Cataloochee Valley in Haywood County. Dr. West was born on November 1, 1940 in Wilkes County, NC. He is the son of the late Rex West, a Baptist Preacher from Wilkes County and the late Ella Mae (Foster) West. He married Carolyn Plott West. They served as therapeutic home parents for the Smoky Mountain Mental Health Center. He was retired from Western Carolina University, where he worked as a biology professor for 36 years. He attended Appalachian State University where he attained his BS degree, and North Carolina State where he attained his MS and PhD degrees. In 1996 he was awarded a Distinguished Service Award in Science Education from the North Carolina Association of Science Teachers . He is survived by his wife: Carolyn Plott West; a son, Keith West of Dallas, TX, a daughter, Anita Rogers of Cullowhee, a brother, Jim West of Boone, NC, and a sister, Anne West Cook of Boone; and four grandchildren, Madison and Adam Rogers, and Jed and Bo West. The family will have a celebration of Jerry's life at Sylva First Baptist Church at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 16, 2011. Reverend Bruce Readling will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be made to a non-profit Christian camp, Riverside Cove, Inc. 299 Independence Place, Cullowhee, NC 28723.