Dr. Joan E. West

Carterville- Dr. Joan E. West, 73, of Carterville, formerly of Massachusetts and Texas, died at 11:45 PM, Friday, November 14, 2003 at Herrin Hospital. Joan was born at Peabody Hospital in Salem, MA on August 29, 1930 to Patrick & Margaret (McNulty) Cahill. She married Philip T. West on October 2, 1951 at St. James Catholic Church in Salem, MA. He survives of Carterville. She attended Salem public elementary school and graduated from St. James High School. While living on Long Island, NY she received an associates degree from Suffolk County Community College. In 1971 she moved to Indiana and attended Purdue University in Ft. Wayne, IN. In 1973 she graduated Purdue with a Bachelors Degree in English. Next she went on to Texas to receive her Masters Degree in Educational Administration with a specialization in English from Texas A&M University, College Station. In 1976 she graduated with a Doctorate in Philosophy in Educational Administration also from Texas A&M with a specialization in English. Shortly after graduation she was employed as a visiting professor within the Department of English at Texas A&M. Dr. West eventually became a full time instructor at Blinn College, Bryan TX, and later assumed a multitude of administrative duties as Division Head of the Department of Humanities from which she retired. Her teaching specialties were in technical writing and composition. She is the author or co-author of two-dozen publications. She was both an Interest Group Chair and presenter at the National Council for Professors of Educational Administration, where she discussed reading techniques and the role of the educational administrator in literature. Too, she served as a consultant to public schools. In 1993 & 1995, she lectured on technical writing at Hualien College in the Republic of China (Taiwan). Dr. West was of catholic faith and attended both St. Josephs Catholic Church in Marion and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Herrin. After almost a quarter century of living in Texas she moved with her husband to Southern Illinois to be close to her grandchildren. SURVIVORS: Husband of 52 years- Dr. Philip T. West- Carterville, IL Son- Dr. Thomas P. West- Brookings, SD Dau & son in law- Dr. Phylis & James Christian Johnson- Carterville Grandchildren: Nicholas Johnson Jenifer Johnson Juliana West-Johnson- all of Carterville Two brothers and one sister of Massachusetts One brother of Florida She was preceded in death by her parents. As per the families wishes her body will be cremated and private family services will be held at a later date. Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home in Herrin is in charge of arrangements. For more information or to sign the memorial guest register; please visit www.hughesfuneralhomes.com.