Longtime Missouri Pastor's Wife Lois West Dies at 91

Lois West, who served alongside her husband in ministry for nearly 40 years, passed away at a care facility in Sweet Springs, Missouri.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 11:27pm

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Lois J. West, a longtime pastor's wife who served alongside her husband in ministry for nearly 40 years, died on March 18, 2026, at the age of 91. West had lived in Sweet Springs, Missouri, where she and her husband James R. West had pastored First Baptist Church from 1967 to 1985 before retiring. A memorial visitation will be held on March 25, 2026.

Why it matters

Lois West's life and service as a pastor's wife highlights the important but often unsung role that spouses play in supporting their partners' ministries. Her dedication to the church and community over decades of service is a testament to the impact that committed individuals can have.

The details

Lois West was born in 1934 in Lone Pine, Wyoming, and graduated from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, with three bachelor's degrees. She then became the first female to earn a master's degree in theology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. After working at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, she married James R. West in 1962 and they began a 40-year career in ministry, serving churches in Missouri, Montana, and Missouri again before retiring.

  • Lois West died on March 18, 2026.
  • A memorial visitation will be held on March 25, 2026.

The players

Lois J. West

A 91-year-old woman who served as a pastor's wife for nearly 40 years, supporting her husband's ministry in various churches across the Midwest.

James R. West

Lois West's husband, with whom she served in ministry for nearly 40 years at churches in Missouri, Montana, and Missouri again before retiring.

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The takeaway

Lois West's life and service as a pastor's wife demonstrates the vital but often overlooked role that spouses play in supporting their partners' ministries and serving their local communities. Her decades of dedication to the church and her community are an inspiration.