She graduated from El Dorado Springs High School in El Dorado Springs, MO in 1987. She then attended college at Southwest Missouri State University where she received her bachelor’s degree in education in 1991. She did her student teaching in Stockton MO. Julie then got her master’s in education from Pittsburg State University in 1997.
Julie started her 31-year teaching career in the fall of 1991 at Nevada Middle School teaching 7th grade science. Julie also taught Practical Technology and will be remembered for her duct tape boats made during Summer School classes and the CO2 Race Cars and Rockets her students made. She was student council sponsor and started the Renaissance Reward Program at NMS. She was an awesome teacher with a special kindness and caring for her students.
Julie received the Pitsco Educator of the Game award at Pittsburg State University in 2013 and the Nevada R5 Teacher of the Year Award in 2001. Julie retired from teaching in Nevada R5 in May of 2022.
Julie married Byron Dean West and to this union two children Connor Dean West and Jackson Blaine West were born.
Survivors include her sons, Connor Dean West and his wife Lauren of Nevada, MO their son and Julie’s grandson Robert “Robbie” La Verne West; Jackson Blaine West and his girlfriend Taylynn Culbertson of Nevada, MO; her father Arthur Blaine Cassell; Step-father Craig Lester; her brother Jon Cassell and his wife Shirin Cassell.
As she entered her heavenly home, she was greeted by her mother, Donna Dean Cassell, grandparents Jesse & Betty Williams, great cousin John Hulse and wife LaDene Hulse and a host of other much loved family members, brothers, and sisters in Christ.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada, followed by interment in the Wagoner Cemetery in Cedar County. A visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 3, 2023 at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to Nevada R-5 Foundation for a Julie West Memorial Scholarship c/o Ferry Funeral Home
