Shelby Jay West
1938 ~ 2022
– Shelby Jay West passed away at the age of 84 on the morning of July 17, 2022 after a seven year battle with Dementia.
Jay was born in February of 1938 to Shelby J and Grace Hunsaker West in Salt Lake City Utah. He is the oldest of 6 children; Gary, Paul, Margaret, Christine and Susie. Jay was raised in a loving home and spent his childhood in Murray Utah. Sports were the center of his youth and you could almost always find him playing basketball or pole vaulting and long jumping on the track.
After graduating from Murray High School he served in the Western States Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Jay served in the National Guard and attended Utah State University, where shortly after, he met his sweetheart, Judene Casper.
The two were happily sealed for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on April 14, 1961 and were married for 61 memorable years. Jay loved his wife immensely and made it his mission to always take care of her and give her the best life possible. Together they raised four children; Shauri Lynne, Pamela Joy, Christopher J. and Troy Jay West.
Jay and Judene lived in Midvale, Utah for five decades where they raised their family and Jay worked as a State Farm Insurance agent for 43 years. Jay loved his clients and they loved him. Jay shared an office with Dee Butterfield for 40 years and they quickly became the greatest of friends. He always continued his education in the insurance industry receiving many awards and certifications. Jay was also a member of the Rotary Club of Midvale for almost four decades.
When Jay wasn’t working, he enjoyed golfing with his dad, brothers Gary and Paul, and many friends. He spent most of his time outside whether it was water skiing, fly fishing, pitching horseshoes or taking care of his beautiful yard. Jay enjoyed sharing his love of the outdoors with his children and grandchildren. He loved to spoil his family with fun-filled vacations, snowmobiling and boating. Jay knew the importance of spending quality time with family and created deep and meaningful relationships with each of his children, grandchildren and his extended family members.
Jay was known for his generous heart and influential role in so many people’s lives. Since his passing, the family has had dozens of messages sharing how he was their hero. Jay always had an unwavering testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and spent countless hours serving the members of his wards and community. Of the multitude of callings Jay has had, being the Bishop of the Midvale 7th Ward was by far his favorite. He genuinely loved each and every member of the ward and always strived to serve them as Christ would have done.
Jay was known for being an exceptional Grandpa. His oldest grandchild Alex, fondly remembers a one-on-one fishing trip to the beautiful landscape of Montana where they caught fish after fish. Every summer Katie and Lindsey looked forward to working on the hardest puzzle they could find with grandpa’s help while he made them the best handmade milkshakes. Tyler always had to be by grandpa. Even when he was mowing the lawn, Tyler was right beside him with his Little Tykes lawn mower. Shelby loved that grandpa would prepare the hot tub for the grandkids to play in all day. No matter how busy he was, Jay always made sure his grandchildren knew how much he loved them.
One of Jay’s claims to fame was winning the cutest baby contest and flying to Hollywood to do a photoshoot with Shirley Temple when he was just a toddler. With age he only became cuter – known as the sweetest man at Cedarwood Assisted Living, Jay was a favorite among many. In his final years Jay was taken care of by his sweet wife Judene, his dog Annie, and the many loving caregivers at Cedarwood Assisted Living in Sandy, Utah.
Jay is survived by his wife Judene, children Shauri, Pam (Cory) Stevens, Chris and Troy. Grandchildren Alex, Katie (Dillon) Vanderhooft, Shelby, Lindsey, Tyler, and siblings Gary (Carolyn), Paul (Karen), Margaret (Dan) Giles, Christine (Val) Day, Robb Sigman, Sandra Walton, Arthur (Luana) Casper, Scott (Stephanie) Casper, and Paula Kimball.
Jay is preceded in death by his parents Shelby and Grace, Judene’s parents Arthur and Bernice Casper, sister Suzie Sigman, In-laws Vawna West, Georgia West, Corey Casper, Harold Walton, and Russell Kimball.
A Viewing will be held Wednesday, July 20, 2022 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Jenkinks-Soffe Mortuary, located at 4760 S. State Street, Murray, Utah.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, July 21, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Midvale 7th Ward Building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 8350 S. Jackson Street (260 W) Midvale, Utah. There will also be a viewing prior to the funeral from 10:00 – 10:45 am.
Jay’s family would like to send much love and appreciation to all of those who took such good care of him at Cedarwood Assisted Living in his final years.
To view the webcast of the funeral service live, please go to www.jenkins-soffe.com
Published by Deseret News from Jul. 19 to Jul. 20, 2022.
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