Norma Jean West, 76, fought the good fight & finished her race on July 20, 2026, at Phelps County Hospital in Rolla, Missouri, with her family by her side. She was born on Nov. 23, 1949, the middle child of Norman and Treva (Crawford) West, in Springfield, Missouri. She was saved and baptized at nine years of age at the baptist church in Cabool, Missouri.
As a small child, she enjoyed riding with her Daddy on his milk routes and she made sure the farmers knew she was his helper.
She attended Cabool Schools, graduating with the class of 1967. She enrolled in Revelle Cosmetology School and found her passion. Her first job was working with Louise Davis for nine years and they formed a close bond. In 1976, she started working at Country Vogue. A year later, she purchased Byron’s Market, remodeling the building in order to move her shop there. She attended every hair show around to keep up with the latest trends to better serve her customers, who were like family. She worked hard, and her expertise and loyalty made for a successful career. She retired after serving the community for 49 years.
She loved all kids as if they were her own. To this day, they still call her by the “nicknames” they gave her: Ninny, Jean, Mama Jean, and recall the special memories and times they had with her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers-in-law, Jon Clifton and Wayne Wright; her niece, Teresa Clifton; great-nephew, Connor Clifton; a special friend, Debbie and other close friends and family.
Surviving are her sisters, Marcia Clifton, Houston, and Trena Wright, Greenfield, Missouri; nephews, Jonathan Clifton (Ashlee) and Joshua Clifton; nieces, Katrena Wright and Katrisha Ritchie (Luther), great nieces & nephews, Mariah Hanson (Camron), Kelsey Ritchie, Alan Ritchie and Kaelan Clifton; great-great nieces and nephew, Montgomery Hanson, Knox Hanson and Scarlett Hanson.
Her ministry was to encourage others with notes or cards to fit their situation.
2 Timothy 4:7: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the Faith.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2026, at the Cabool Second Baptist Church with Pastor Floyd Hutson officiating. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the service time on Friday at the Church. Interment will follow in the New Hope Cemetery at Solo. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New Hope Cemetery. Services are under the care of Bradford Funeral Home and online condolences may be left at www.bradfordfuneralhome.net.
