Barbara Jean West

Barbara Jean (Hudson) West, 68, of Eau Claire, MI, passed away peacefully, Friday, June 16, 2017, at her home surrounded by her loving husband and family.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Heritage Chapel, Berrien Springs 269-471-2700.  A memorial dinner will be held at 1:00 P.M. Sunday, June 25, 2017 at Eau Claire Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 6562 Naomi Rd., Eau Claire, MI 49111.  Private burial will take place at a later time. Barb was born August 23, 1948 in Benton Harbor, MI, to George Willard Hudson, Jr. and Huldena Barbara Kublick. After the loss of her Mother at the tender age of eight, she was blessed to have had her Aunt Daisy Mae Hudson and Step-Mother, Leota Day Hudson to guide and love her. She grew up on the Hudson dairy farm in Berrien Center enjoying everything associated with nature and country living.  Barb showed cows at the Berrien County Youth Fair winning many blue ribbons.  She loved talking about happy times spent with family having picnics, playing softball, roller skating trips, swimming at Indian Lake’s dead man’s curve and canning peaches with grandmothers.  Before graduating from Eau Claire High School in 1966, she attended the 1964 World’s Fair in New York.  Barb was a hair dresser owning BJ’s Beauty Shop in Dowagiac.  In her spare time, she enjoyed crocheting, having made more than thirteen afghans for family wedding gifts over the years.  More recently, Barb spoke about taking long walks near her home and what an impact they had on her life.  She said each day she set a new goal and it was never too late to start.  People told her it wasn’t safe to walk alone – her reply was, “I never walk alone.”  She believed our Heavenly Father gave us many beautiful things to enjoy and so we should.  She was a strong Christian woman.  Recently, she became a member of the Eau Claire Seventh-Day Adventist Church – something very important to her.  She was loved by many and will be missed by all. Barb is survived by her beloved husband, Steven West, of Eau Claire; sons Timothy (Gayle) Tidey of Keeler, Christopher (Sandy) Tidey of Dowagiac and Chad (Laura) Tidey of Berrien Center; step-sons, Steven “Skeeter” West, Jr. of Grand Rapids, Michael West of Dowagiac, Jerry West of Dowagiac and Jon (Jamie) West of Buchanan; seven grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, one great-grandchild and one step great-grandchild; brothers, Leon (Anna) Hudson of Hartford and Leonard Hudson of Coloma; step-sisters, Shirley (Donald) Schram of Berrien Center and Nancy (Paul) Kizer of Ann Arbor; step-brother, Ronald Kublick of Eau Claire and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Barb was preceded in death by her step-mother, Leota Day Hudson, step-brother, Eugene Kublick and two nephews.