Earselean “Erse” West, 86, of St. Louis, Missouri, died peacefully at home in her sleep on Saturday, June 19, 2021. She is survived by daughter Ursula Tate (Dennis) of Atlanta, Georgia, son Adrian West (Veronica) of Atlanta, Georgia, grandchildren Kristen Olsen (Morten) of Copenhagen, Denmark, Karyn Tate of Washington, D.C., Adrian West, Jr. (Shanniel) of Jersey City, New Jersey, and Jonathan West of Atlanta, Georgia, great-grandchildren Vega Olsen and Atlas Olsen, brother Theodore “Sonny” Jones of San Diego, California, loved nieces and nephews, a host of other cherished family members and friends, and her BFF dog Frisky. Her husband of 56 years, Alvin “Nibbles” West, parents, and ten siblings preceded her in death.
She was born in Fitzhugh, Arkansas, the youngest child of James and Dessie Jones. To this union, twelve siblings, eight girls and four boys, were born: Alma, Thelma, James, Willie, Rutha, Elgirta, Nesha, Wiley, Deborah, Theodore, Floyd, and Earselean.
Erse earned a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching from Harris Teachers College in St. Louis, Missouri in 1966 and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster College in St. Louis, Missouri in 1977. She was a dedicated educator specializing in literacy with the St. Louis Public School System, retiring in 1993. She then taught at AAAcademy, now Busch Middle School of Character. In total, she committed 38 years of her life to education. Erse was an avid reader, enjoyed traveling, and above all else, loved her family.
She completed high school in San Diego, California. To earn income over the summer while she waited to enroll at the University of California at San Diego, she applied for a job that she saw posted on the bulletin board outside the counselor’s office. She, along with three others, was hired to develop sonar for the Navy. Her hearing was so advanced that she was tagged with having “flipper ears,” i.e., she could hear what dolphins heard. At the end of the summer, she was the only one kept on the project, and they parked a soundproof trailer on the University campus with an armed Marine guard. Whenever Erse was not in class, she was inside that trailer working for the Navy. She worked until she left the University later that year.
Erse attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, after leaving California. There she met Alvin West. They married in December 1953 and moved to St. Louis, Missouri, after his graduation the following spring.
A sister taught her to sew, which is how she earned extra money when she moved to St. Louis, Missouri. A door-to-door salesman came by at the perfect time, and she bought a sewing machine for $50. Realizing she had no skills, she enrolled in Hadley Technical School and took pattern drafting and tailoring classes to make men’s suits. Her landlord was a lifesaver because she would take care of her two young children when she had to stay late for classes. Erse became an excellent seamstress. She earned more money sewing clothes than she made teaching which meant she took a pay cut when entering the classroom. She continued honing her seamstress skills over the years sewing formal attire, beachwear, lingerie, uniforms, and whatever else her clients wanted. She was so good that some of her clients would tell her what event they were attending, their preferred outfit, and then leave the pattern, fabric, color, and cost decisions up to her.
Erse loved to read and developed an interest in traveling from the places, histories, cultures, and peoples and their adventures that she encountered as she journeyed through the pages of her books. Her favorite vacation was to Egypt with her beloved husband, Alvin. Her one regret was not getting to see Greece.
The memorial celebration to honor her life will be held Saturday, August 21, 1:00 pm at:
Kutis Funeral Home
(314) 772-3000
2906 Gravois Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63118
(314) 772-3000
In place of flowers, the family asks that you consider supporting literacy programs with donations of books, financial gifts, or your time in her honor/memory. A selection of suggested organizations is listed below but feel free to choose your own.
https://cli.org/
https://reachoutandread.org/
https://www.savethechildren.org/us/what-we-do/education/literacy-in-us
https://www.rif.org/home
https://bringmeabookstl.org/
https://thelittlebitfoundation.org/program/academic-enrichment/
I knew husband Alvin “Nibbles” West from working at DMAAC.
He was quite a delightful person. I did not know his wife Earselean West but would like to express my condolences on your loss. Sounds like she was quite a wonderful person.
The West family lived in the same building as my grandparents, uncle and cousins. I remember wonderful times playing in the backyard and inside. When they moved we stayed friends, particularly when we all ended up at the same high school where daughter, Ursala met her future husband. It has been many years since those days but I have fond memories of Mrs. West sewing and drinking Pepsi! Ursala and Adrian (Thea and AG), we loved your mom and know she’s proud of the legacy she left with you and your families. On behalf of Sheryl Hart Davenport, Dianna Hart and Claybourne Hart, our prayers and sympathy are with you in the loss of your beloved mother. God Bless, Jennifer Hart Randle
Mrs. West was on my mind and I had to find her. I was fortunate to have her as an educator and my favorite teacher at AAA. We bonded over our love of reading and fashion. Mrs. West attended my baptism which was forever special. She’s the best I could never repay the life lessons I learned. Heaven has a classy, jazzy lady. I love you. God thank you for loaning us Mrs. West.