Harriet DeZee West passed on to eternal life quietly on April 23, 2018 with her family by her side. Harriet Louise DeZee was born April 3, 1925 the middle of 13 children of Matthew and Helena (Lameer) DeZee. She spent her entire life in the Ellsworth and Canfield areas, graduating from Canfield High School in 1943.
At the age of 14 Harriet left home and took residence with the Charles Neff Family where she tended the kids and helped with household demands in exchange for room and board. While still in high school she worked for the United Stated Post Office before and after school. It was there that she met her future husband, Herman Lee West.
They married May 21 1947. Together they worked on finishing the home they built. She lived there 69 years.
Harriet became a widow at a young age when the love of her life died in 1982. Her love for him was so great she never desired to date or marry again. Harriet played a visible and active role in the Canfield United Methodist Church where she and Herman were married.
She taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, helped in the office, baked, crafted and was the “unofficial” coffee maker for years. Her church life was very important to her. Harriet was also very proud of the time she spent as a fundraiser Chairwoman for the American Heart Association when her granddaughter Randee was the Heart Child.
Harriet along with other widows lived very active lives attending local plays. She attended her grandchildren’s activities on a regular basis. She was their biggest cheerleader.
Often, she hosted the grandchildren over, grouping them by age. She was very active in their lives. Besides her parents and husband Herman, Harriet is preceded in death by her brothers, George, Ed, Bob, Lester, Bill, Ray, Charlie, and Ralph DeZee, and sisters Pauline (Fred) Meyerhoefer, Margaret (Bob) Herman and Sarah (Bill) Baltes.
She will be forever missed by her children, Jim (Kim) West, Marilyn (Tom) Bowser, and Dee (Dave) Dieter; 11 grandchildren, Jackie (Ryan) Grissett, Bo (Sara) Bowser, Jessica Bowser, Randee (Steve) Graham, Katie Bowser, Brooke (C.J.) Brink, Bobi Jo (Greg) Piper, Nikki (Matt) Kominak, B.J. (Bethany) Beck, Matthew (Mary Lynn) Dieter, and Alexandra (Collin) Donaldson, and 21 great-grandchildren. She also leaves her brother Freddie DeZee and almost 50 nieces and nephews. A Memorial service celebrating Harriet’s life will be 11AM Friday at the Canfield United Methodist Church, 27 S. Broad St. on the green in Canfield.
The family would like to offer a special thank you to the Hospice of the Valley, especially Denise Reed and Georgia Greene for the exceptional care they gave Harriet. Memorial donations may be made to the church, or to the Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St. Youngstown, Ohio 44512. Visit www.
lanefuneralhomes.com to share memories and condolences with Harriet’s family. To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Harriet West, please visit our Tribute Store.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
