June 9, 1930  –  October 7, 2024

Lawton, OK

Funeral service for Joyce Margaret West, 94, of Lawton will be held at noon on Friday, October 11, 2024, at Trinity Baptist Church with Rev. Eddie Coast, pastor officiating.

Mrs. West passed away on Monday, October 7, 2024, in Lawton.

Burial will be held at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Oklahoma under the direction of Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home.

Viewing will be held on Thursday, October 10, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a special viewing and visitation for family and friends from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Joyce was born on June 9, 1930, in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma to John Henry and Prudy Ann (Teague) Gatlin. She grew up in Anadarko, OK and later lived in Keys, OK where she graduated from high school. She worked for a while as a telephone operator with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Joyce attended college in Altus and graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Cameron University. She later received her master’s degree in special education from the University of Oklahoma. She taught special education for Lawton Public Schools until her retirement. She was a devoted member of Trinity Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school for many years. She was currently a member of Central Baptist Church. Joyce married Johnny E. West on February 26, 1956, in Lawton. They were married over 67 years before Johnny’s passing on February 21, 2023.

Three children and their spouses survive her, Johnny Michael and Sheryl West, Jamie and Lyman Misel, and Mark and Nikki West, all of Lawton, OK; her grandchildren, Johnnie Renee West, Christina Bellar, Melissa Dearing, Elizabeth Coffman and husband, Ryan, Rebecca Cantu, Jonathan Misel and wife, Chianne, Justin West and wife, Moriah, and Noah West and wife, Alicia; numerous great-grandchildren; her siblings, many nieces, nephews and other loving family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Johnny West; and her sister.