Clair Edward West Obituary (1938 - 2008)

Clair Edward West passed away peacefully at home on Thursday. April 10th. He was born July 13, 1938 in Ogden, Utah to Ronald Edward and Arminta Leona Rhodes West. His father died when he was 13 years old. He was the only son in a family of three girls. He graduated from Ogden High School in 1956. He then attended Weber State College where he participated in many musicals accompanying on piano, playing various roles and singing beautiful baritone solos. While at Weber State he was in a male quartet, sang and accompanied the choir, and met LaRee Best who would become his wife. He received his Associate's degree from Weber State and then attended Utah State University. At Utah State he continued his legacy of entertaining with piano and vocal solos including a lead in the Messiah. On March of 1960 he married the love of his life, LaRee Brown Best. They raised three beautiful daughters and a wonderful son. He loved to spend time with his family, taking them on numerous camping and fishing trips, and teaching them about the great outdoors. His family always came first in everything he did. Clair was a member of the LDS church and congregations loved him wherever he attended. He spent many years conducting choirs, leading the music in sacrament meeting, and playing piano solos. For many years he played beautiful piano and organ duets with his sister Dorothy West. He instilled a love of music in his children by singing with them, accompanying them while they learned to play various instruments and going many places with them to accompany their vocal solos. Weber State College was lucky to have him as a music educator for many years where he had professional friendships and his students adored him. Along string of piano students who loved Clair dearly came across the threshold of the West home. He taught private lessons at home for his entire adult life even up until the day of his death. He was preceded in death by his beloved son Matthew Clair West, Sister Dorothy E. West and brother's in law John C. McAuliffe and James K. McAuliffe. He is survived by his wife LaRee, children Kelley L. (Randy) Dodge, Melanie (Mark) Vigil, Camille (John) Filiaga, and grandchildren Miles M. Vigil, Awnaliese (Dan) Amos, Alexandria Filiaga, Morgan Dodge, Montana Vigil, Manaia M. Filiaga, Joseph L. Vigil, Samantha S. Filiaga, Malakai J Filiaga, Matthew G. Vigil and Mariah M. Vigil He is also survived by his sister's Gloria W McAuliffe and Florence W. Zandell, and two special nephews, Tony McAuliffe and Michael J. McAuliffe and many other nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank Dr. Bryan Campbell for many years of dedicated service. Funeral services will be held Monday, April 14, 2008 at 11:00 at Myers Mortuary in Ogden; 845 Washington Blvd. Friends may call on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. and also on Monday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Ogden City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.myers-mortuary.com. VisitationMyers Mortuary - Ogden 100 Monroe Blvd. Ogden, UT 84404 April 13, 2008 6:00 PM - 6:00 PM ServiceMyers Mortuary - Ogden 1875 Monroe Blvd Ogden, Utah 84401 April 14, 2008 11:00 AM CemeteryMyers Evergreen Memorial Park 100 Monroe Blvd. Ogden, UT 84404 April 14, 2008