Dixie Clay West passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter on March 18, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born in Ogden, Utah on April 17, 1931, the daughter of Wallace Adair Clay and Bertha Gordon Clay. She grew up in Willard, Utah, graduating from Box Elder High School in 1949. She attended the University of Utah where she met and married her college sweetheart, David Eardley West. Together they had 5 children, 23 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren.
Dixie was proud of her heritage and her parents' legacy of integrity and learning. After raising her children, she returned to college to earn her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and her Masters of Social Work at the University of Utah. Dixie valued and encouraged higher education for her posterity. All of her children successfully graduated from college in large part due to her support and determination.
Dixie became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served faithfully in many callings throughout her life.
First and foremost in her life was her dedication to her husband and family. Her greatest joy was her large posterity. She enjoyed family gatherings and being a part of family traditions. She always supported her grandchildren and took great pride as they grew in their talents. She enjoyed reading, theater, tennis, bowling, and attending University of Utah and Jazz basketball games with her husband. She was especially fond of talking and philosophizing for hours into the night with her children and siblings.
Dixie is survived by her children David Clay West (Holly), Arnold Joseph West (Jennifer), Janice West Karren (Wade), Barbara West Jessee (Ron), John Wallace West (Lisa), 21 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and her brother Douglas Roger Clay. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her siblings Virginia Clay Gore, Adair Clay Housley, Marion Clay Jeppsen, Robert Blaine "Bud" Clay, Bonnie Clay Hansen, Wallace Gordon "Tom" Clay, and by grandchildren Elizabeth Angel West and Mark Eardley West.
The family would like to express gratitude to the dedicated caregivers from Aspire who worked on her behalf through the last year of her life. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no formal services. Burial will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery under the direction of Larkin Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, we would encourage friends and family to perform an act of kindness, or donate to your favorite charity in memory of Dixie. If time permits, the family would appreciate a written note describing your experience giving to others.
