Marilyn Blansett West

Marilyn Blansett West, aged 75, passed away at her daughter's residence in Eudora on July 1, 2025, just 2 weeks shy of her 76th birthday.
Marilyn was born on July 13, 1949, in Trumann, Arkansas, to the late John Darrell and Edith Jewel "Jude" Spears Blansett. Marilyn attended Ross Van Ness and Eudora School systems, eventually graduating from Eudora High School in 1968. Growing up in Eudora, Marilyn and her family attended the Beouff River Church of God, but later in life, she attended Northside Baptist Church with her daughter and family.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her twin sons, Michael Ray and Anthony Todd West, as well as the father of her children, Roy Andrew West. Three brothers, John Darrell, Roy Land, and Donald Blansett. One sister, Faye Blansett Knight, and two grandchildren, Steven David and Jacob Daniel West.
Marilyn is survived by her son, Steven West and his wife, Nora; daughter, Stephanie Nichols and her husband, Terry both of Eudora; sisters, Barbara West and husband, Woodie, Margie Johnson both of Eudora; brother, Raymond Blansett and his wife Edith; two grandsons, Michael Woodall and his wife, Brianna of Hamburg, Chandler Nichols of Eudora, and one granddaughter Sara Grant and her husband, Mark of Collins; three great grandchildren, Gavin and Mari Grace Woodall of Hamburg and David Grant of Collins Arkansas; and host of numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, & friends left to keep her memory alive.
Marilyn had many nicknames. Mare, Emma, Legs, but her greatest was MawMaw. Marilyn was always the first to lend a helping hand, a ride, a visit, or a kind word when needed. She loved spending time traveling with her sisters, nieces, nephews (and any others that came along. She and her travel buddy, E (Edith), loved to make their "rounds" daily. A lot of that time was spent listening to their favorite old music, which mainly included Jim Reeves, Johnny Horton, Elvis, George Jones, and those other country greats, riding around the "old neighborhood" along the Beouff River. On their way, they had to blow the horn at the Blansett homeplace on Number 8. Many days were spent in the Hamburg Hills at the Caldwell Camp with cousins, hunting, telling stories, playing cards or marbles with lots of cheating!
Marilyn worked for many years in the human resources and purchasing departments at the Superior Uniform Factory and Springwater Farms/Farmland in Eudora, making many lifelong friendships and relationships over the years. She later worked in Kilbourne, Louisiana, for several years as a secretary at Brown's Trucking, where she and her boss always argued. Her secretarial work would ultimately be her last job before her retirement, which allowed her to have more free time for those open roads. Her retirement allowed her to take one last "job," which was probably her favorite, keeping her golden boy's little boy.
After retirement, Marilyn would pick up her buddy Edith and drive anywhere to see what they could get into. However, any trip would not be complete without a stop to pick up her lottery tickets, because she firmly believed she would hit that jackpot one day! And came close a couple of times.
Marilyn found great pride and joy in her family. She loved to spend time with her sisters, nieces, nephews, children, but especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The days spent babysitting Gavin were some of her happiest in her later years. Some of her last words were expressing the joy of being surrounded by all her family in her final days and the strength it gave her.
A special thank you to the Hospice Home Care team, her CNA, Ronia, but especially her "golden girl", Brianna, for all the care, love, and time spent seeing to her needs.
Pallbearers are: Michael Woodall, Zac Yee, Jared Yee, Tanner Bowers, Darrell Blansett, Kyler West, Melinda West, and Jeff Blansett.
Honorary pallbearers are: John Bowers, Chandler Nichols, Mark Hunter, Mark Grant, Chris Stauddy, Kyzer Black, Tanner Blansett and Wesley Owens.
Online Guestbook may be signed at www.griffinculpepper.com. Arrangements made by Griffin-Culpepper Funeral Service Of McGehee, Arkansas.