Lavelle "Vel" A. West

LaVelle A. "Vel" West, 68, died at his home in Bellingham, Wash., Feb. 14. A celebration of life service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Christ the King Church in Bellingham. A reception will follow.

He was born in La Grande June 20, 1937, to William Raymond West and Bertha (Lovely) West.

He graduated from La Grande High School in 1955 and graduated from Washington State University in 1960. Mr. West taught and was head football coach for Raymond High School in Raymond, Wash., for seven years, Placer High School in Auburn, Calif., for five years and at Bellingham High School for 18 years.

Mr. West had a masters degree in education and retired from teaching in 1998.

He is survived by his sister Dorotha Voruz of La Grande; special friend Sandra Gurosko; and three children and their spouses, all of Bellingham, LaVelle E. "Butch" and Sharon West, Lucinda L. "Cindy" and Keith Willnauer, LaMar A "Marty" and Libby West; and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Norman, and his wife of 41 years, Peggy Ann West.

Memorials may be made to the Whatcom Hospice Foundation in Bellingham.