Veneta Turner West (79) of Garland was devoted to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; to her husband Bob; to her children, grandchildren, and family; and to serving others.  She was born to Robert Worth and Thelma Nell Turner on January 18, 1944 in Austin, Texas.  She was raised in Austin and graduated from McCallum High School in 1962.  She moved from her earthly home to her heavenly home to be with Jesus for all eternity on August 9, 2023.

In high school, Veneta excelled scholastically and also was named to the All-State choir as an alto in her senior year.  She was a member of the girls Blue Brigade drill team in high school.  Veneta and Bob were in the same home room class and started dating in October, 1961 when they were seniors. After graduating from high school in 1962, Veneta and Bob both attended the University of Texas in Austin.  They were married on March 15 1963 while both were attending UT and were blessed with two children—Chuck and Amy.  Veneta went to work soon after they were married.  Bob graduated from UT in January, 1967 and they moved to Wichita Falls that same month for Bob to be employed with Johnson & Johnson.  In 1969 the West family moved to Sherman, Texas for Bob to continue his employment with Johnson and Johnson.

Following a long dream to own their own business, Veneta and Bob purchased Haring Office Equipment in Sherman in 1975 and then purchased and/or started several gift stores in Sherman, Denison and the Dallas area over the next several years.  Veneta worked with many brides by helping them set up their bridal registry.  The West family was very active in First Baptist Church in Sherman where Veneta was a mainstay and soloist in the adult choir for over 40 years.

Veneta and Bob closed their Sherman businesses in 2008 and became missionaries with East-West Ministries.  In 2014 the West family moved to Garland to be close to the East-West office and joined Prestonwood Baptist Church.  As a missionary, Veneta was most interested in discipling women and sharing Jesus with those who did not have a personal relationship with Him. Veneta traveled to many locations with other women to disciple indigenous women and with Bob to share Jesus with those who did not know Him.  Veneta traveled to Kazakhstan, Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Cuba and India as a missionary representing East-West.

Veneta was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2008.  To give her the care that she needed, Veneta entered the first memory care facility in January, 2021.  She continued to live in a memory care facility until she peacefully went to live with Jesus about 6:00 am on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.  The care that Veneta received from the staff at The Bader House in Plano and at Grand Brook Memory Care in Garland was outstanding.

Veneta was called "Sweet Veneta" by many because she was sweet, loving, caring and engaging.  She was a loving wife to Bob for 60 years and 5 months and she was the consummate "MomMom" to her grandchildren.  She will be missed in many ways by many people but her legacy lives on through her family, her friends, and her ministry to others.

Veneta is survived by her loving husband, Bob; by her two children and their spouses Chuck and Kim West and Amy and Wayne Corum; by her grandchildren Lyndsay West Edgell and her husband Devin, Lauren West, Travis West, Treyson West, MacKenzie Corum and Kaleb Corum; by a sister and her husband, Wanette and Bruce Blackwell; and a host of other family members.  She is preceded in death by her parents and one grandson, Tyler Thompson West.

A visitation with family will be held in the sanctuary at First Baptist Church, 400 S. Travis, Sherman, Texas 75090 on Thursday, August 10 from 6:30 – 8:00 PM.  A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, August 11 in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in Sherman at 10:00 AM with a reception following the service.  On Saturday, August 12, a Celebration of Life will be held in the chapel of Prestonwood Baptist Church, 6801 W. Park Blvd, Plano, TX. 75093 at 10:00 AM with a reception following the service.

If a donor desires, donations can be mailed to the Veneta West Evangelism Fund c/o East-West Ministries, 2001 West Plano Pkwy, Suite 3000, Plano, TX. 75075 or be given on line at www.eastwest.org/venetawest.