Sethora Bell West

SETHORA BELL WEST of Fulshear, Texas passed away June 23, 2006. She was born in Alvin, Texas on May 27, 1919. She grew up and attended schools in Alvin and Navasota graduating from High School in 1935. She attended Lamar State College in Beaumont where she graduated with a BA with High Honors in Sociology and a MA in Texas History. She is survived by her niece: Nancy Scott-Zamfira of Delray Beach, Florida; great-nephew: David Heizer and his wife, Jennifer and their children, Emma and Seth of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; great-nephew: Craig Heizer and his wife, Lori, and their children, Adam and Isaac of Bellville, Ontario, Canada. Her extended family also included Earlene West of Houston and Frank, Cheryl and their son, Eric Heizer of Southampton, Ontario, Canada. Sethora's family roots extend from Stephan F. Austin's Old 300 Colony who settled in the area in the early 19th Century. She was the daughter of William and Emma (nee Manaker) Nott of Fulshear, Texas and sister to Lloyd Nott of Beaumont. She was preceded in death by her beloved husbands, Ralph R. Weed (1912-1956, M. 1937) and Earle H. West (1918-1982, M. 1968). She taught school at East Bernard High School and at Katy Jr. High School until she retired in 1986. Her intellect, generosity, affection, keen wit, and dedication to her church, community, students and dear friends are acknowledged by all who were fortunate enough to know her. Sethora was an avid historian and teacher of Texas and the Civil War History. More importantly, she was a recognized authority of the heroes, knaves, characters, misanthropes, champions and fools of Fulshear and Fort Bend County. She was regularly invited to be a guest speaker at local libraries, schools, civic and community organizations. Sethora and her family donated land to the Fulshear-Simonton Fire Department and for the Frances Smart Park on Highway 359, which sites a gazebo and plaque to their generosity. Her many accomplishments and contributions includes, but are not limited to, being published in the Handbook of Texas, a fifty year member of the order of Eastern Star, a Fort Bend Historian Museum docent, a member of Fulshear's First City Council, a charter member of the Bob Lutts, Fulshear-Simont Friends of the Library, a member of the Simonton Country Seniors, a member of the Richmond-Rosenberg AARP, the former treasurer and Honorary Board Member Emeritus of the Fulshear Cemetery Association, a member of the Board of Directors of Emergency Services District 4, and a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Fulshear Methodist Women. Friends may call from 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. on Sunday, June 25, 2006 at the Schmidt Funeral Home Chapel in Brookshire, Texas. Graveside Service will be held at 9:00 A.M. on Monday, June 26, 2006 at Fulshear Cemetery and a Memorial Service will held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, June 26, 2006, at the Fulshear United Methodist Church with Reverend Capri Grimes and Reverend Kay Johnson, Officiating. In lieu of usual remembrances, friends who wish may make memorial gifts to the Fulshear Cemetery Association, PO Box 141, Fulshear, TX 77441 or to Katy Hospice, 20923 Kingsland Blvd., Katy, TX 77450. Arrangements were made under the direction of Schmidt Funeral Home, 819 Waller Avenue, P.O. Box 819, Brookshire, Texas 77423, (281)934-2424 .