Donald W. West M.D.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, August 16, 2021 at The Bayou Church for Donald Wade West, 79, who passed away on August 12, 2021. Brother Mike Walker, Founding Pastor of The Bayou Church, will conduct the service. Burial will be at Calvary Mausoleum. Donald Wade West was born on April 26th 1942 in Palestine, Texas where he was raised by a loving single mother who provided for him and his sister Bobbie by teaching them the foundations of a strong Christian faith and a hard work ethic necessary to overcome tough times. During the formative years of life, he was shaped as a man by his grandfathers and three special uncles Frank, Calvin and Lloyd. He would often tell the stories of his youth and the good times shaped by those 3 men and his cousins. At age 17, Don committed his life to Christ and began a new beginning in what was an unfolding story. This is self-described as a turning point in his life with true purpose. He would often say that God had a way of blessing and shaping your life that you could only see retrospectively. After graduating from Palestine High School, he attended college. During time off from school, he rough-necked in east Texas and in south Louisiana. Once while on a hitch in south Louisiana, he met an innocent 20 year old Cajun girl named Jeanita Boudreaux in Thibodaux, Louisiana. From that day on south Louisiana was his second home. His 20’s into his 30’s were filled with stories of laughter with Jeanita’s family. Mainly stories that involved her parents Mable and Napoleon, her brother Dale Boudreaux, his wife Susan along with Hilda and Tiger Prejean. Don was drafted by the US Army and God shaped his life by stationing him in a laboratory in Fort Sill, Oklahoma where his love of laboratory medicine grew. He often referred to the draft as one of the best blessings that happened to him. The melting pot of folks from all over the country allowed a young man with little confidence to realize his true potential and see the gifts God had given him. After completing his service, he was able to finally convince Jeanita to marry him in 1969. The two of them moved to Nacogdoches, Texas where he finally graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University. As he would often say, once you drink the water from south Louisiana you are always drawn back. After graduation God steered them back to Louisiana with a position as a Biochemistry Research Associate at Tulane. He met his mentor Dr Sid Huggins who eventually asked Don to follow him to South Alabama where a new medical school was being formulated. After some convincing from his mentor and a push from God Don, not convinced himself with less than stellar grades, took a leap of faith and applied to medical school. He graduated from medical school in 1978 and returned to Louisiana to attend residency in Pathology at Ochsner New Orleans. After completion of residency in 1982, Dr. Donald W West MD took a job in Lafayette, Louisiana at Lafayette General Medical Center with Dr Howard B Burch MD and Dr JT Mc Quitty MD. Here his love of pathology grew as he and his partners established the most respected pathology group in the Lafayette area. Dr West was someone who had a true passion for the field of pathology which was often demonstrated by his commitment to having the Pathology Department represented on as many hospital committees as possible. But no one saw his passion for pathology more than his family on beach vacations where Dr West would bring a microscope, loads of slide folders and spend hours reviewing pathology cases on the balcony. In the world of pathology medicine, his measurement for the lab’s success was to treat each case or patient as if it was your husband, wife or mother. He often said if you treat each case with the same energy you would treat your relative’s case you could have no regrets and could have done nothing more. Dr West was able to work until the end of his life and he would have had it no other way. He was truly proud of the Preferred Anatomic Pathology Services team that was comprised of a wonderful staff and a group of Pathologists he was so proud of that was unmatched in skill and scope. More importantly than his passion for pathology was his passion for Christ. He attended Easy Bayou Baptist Church where he became came involved at all levels of service including teaching bible studies and serving on the board. One of the main joys was his small group where he made great lifelong friends such as Mike and Paula Walker, Bob and Holly Fell and the Powell group. He would often share his testimony and express to others that God is working in your life even when you don’t realize it. His main goal in his personal life was to follow God with all his heart and all his soul. He was a kind man who took a true desire in getting to know people and their true story. This was never more evident than in the halls of the hospital where he was often seen discussing serious medical matters with fellow physicians and in the next breath taking on a deep conversation with non-medical staff member about their interests, sons, daughters and family. Though he would tell you that his life was one big blessing, he would also point to watching his wife Jeanita lose her battle with cancer as his most dark of times. He often believed that God had a purpose even during the dark times and that if you focus on the blessings and the positives Gods plan will reveal itself. Over the next couple of years while mourning the loss of his wife and dragging his son Jason all around the country RV shopping as a distraction, he then abandoned the RV search. He had found peace and comfort in another Cajun girl, this time from the Island (Pecan Island). Genell Melancon restored a joy and a void in his life that was unfamiliar to his son Jason. He saw a man reinvigorated by a lady that was totally different than his mother but was a great partner to his Dad. He saw his Dad for the first time in life let down his guard and truly do things outside of his comfort zone. Genell re-energized him and they were able to grow old as partners and grandparents to 4 wonderful grandchildren. He would always express that Genell was a gift from God who was another surprise blessing in life. Together they were able to find a lot of common loves, none more that the lake house on Caney Lake. Here DW began to relax and enjoy life to the fullest. They were able to reconnect with Old Friends such as Orvell and Claudia Steen and make new lifelong friends with Dianne and Tommy Edwards . Anyone that knew Don West knew that his favorite thing in life was to hit the open road for a good old road trip. One of his gleaming accomplishments was visiting all 50 states. He could tell anyone a scenic drive or pertinent fact about the state they were from or traveling to. His favorite trips were out west to the Rocky Mountains, but his ultimate highlight of his road trips was just a few years ago when he and his brother in-law Dale Boudreaux hit the road to Alaska and back. This was a bucket list event that his family had heard about for years that finally happened! Don, a resident of Lafayette, was the son of the late Willie West and the former Ramie Lassiter. He is survived by his wife, Genell West; son, Jason West and wife, Trisha; step-son, John Lindsey Boudreaux and wife, Alyssa; grandchildren, Sarah Katherine, Eleanor, Margaret, and Matthew West, and one sister, Bobbie Magee. He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife, Jeanita West. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at The Bayou Church, 2234 Kaliste Saloom Rd., Lafayette on Monday, August 16, 2021 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.If Don West was still here he would tell you to put God first in your life and everything else through that faith will fall into place. Trust in God with All your heart and soul! Proverbs 3 5:6 - In the Lord with all thine heart and lean unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Phillipians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ that Strengthens Me. Phillipians 4:6 - Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. In Lieu of Flowers the family asks that you consider a monetary gift to: Caney Lake Baptist Church In Memory of Donald W West PO Box 363 Chatham, LA 71226 The Bayou Church In Memory of Donald W West 2234 Kaliste Saloom Rd Lafayette, LA 70508 Personal condolences may be sent to the West family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Donald W. West M.D.

April 26, 1942 - August 12, 2021